A Norfolk coroner says cancer patient’s treatment was delayed

A coroner found there were “missed opportunities” to treat a 38-year-old woman with cancer.

Carla Smith, 38, who died on 7 June 2023, had metastatic endometrial cancer which had been rapidly progressing.

In a a prevention of future deaths report, the area coroner for Norfolk, Samantha Goward, said there had been “significant delays” getting laboratory results and “lengthy waiting lists – even for urgent referrals”.

Rebecca Martin, medical director at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust, said it had carried out an investigation into Ms Smith’s care and had learnt from the coroner’s findings.

The report said Ms Smith went to her GP surgery in July 2022 for an…