A widow, whose husband's cancer was caught late, shares her story as new figures reveal that University Hospitals North Midlands NHS Trust has paid out nearly £8 million in misdiagnosis-related medical negligence claims over the past six years.

"They told us it was as clear as day - if they caught it, he could still be here today," blasts Mark Shaw's grieving widow, after a fatal misdiagnosis error.

The Burslem grandad-to-be was just 54 years old when he passed away in March 2023, following a short battle with lung cancer that a doctor later admitted should have been caught seven months earlier.

In August 2021, Mark Shaw suffered a mini-stroke in his brain and stem. He underwent a CT scan and an x-ray at the time and was successfully treated at Royal Stoke University Hospital, operated by University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust (UHNM).

But just seven months later, on 31 March 2022, a follow-up CT scan revealed a devastating reality: Mark had small-cell lung cancer.

The cancer had been visible on the initial scans taken the previous summer.

"The doctor was really apologetic," Mark's 64-year-old widow, Lesley Shaw, explained.

"He showed us the two scans that were taken seven months apart and you can see the cancer on both. It was a hell of a lot smaller in the first than it was in the second. The tumour went from the size of a pea to the size of a tomato in seven months."

She continued: "We would've been none the wiser if the doctor didn't tell us initially, but once they pointed it out, it was as clear as day. He just said, 'I'm really sorry, this should've been caught'."

Following his diagnosis, Mark - a former smoker who worked as a resin floor layer and plasterer - was given a prognosis of two years.

He underwent rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and the family explained that the latter took a particularly heavy toll.

"He never showed that the cancer bothered him, he always put a brave face on for me," Lesley shared.

"He went through so much pain in his last few months, his health really deteriorated. He went downhill real fast."

Mark died on 30 March 2023 - just 12 months after his diagnosis, and exactly a year short of his initial prognosis.

The couple, who both lived in Burslem and had been together for 25 years, were due to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary this year.

It was a second marriage for both, with Mark having a 38-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, who birthed his first two grandchildren, while also raising Lesley's youngest son - who was just six when they met - as his own.

Mark's son's partner was pregnant at the time of his decline, with Mark excited for the new arrival, but he passed away just five days before the baby was born.

"The doctor said we could've contained it more if they caught it during the initial x-ray," Lesley said.

"The outcome would have been the same, but he would have lived longer by around two to three years. If they did catch it, he could've still been here today. He would have met his grandchild."

Before his health took a final turn for the worse, the couple bought a small campervan in February 2023.

Mark, an avid fisherman and a man who loved building things, dreamed of touring the UK. Tragically, the pair only managed to take it out a couple of times before he became too ill.

"I just can't part ways with it anymore, because it's to do with Mark," Lesley said. She has since taken the van out with her sister to spread Mark's ashes in Beddgelert, Wales.

The couple also shared an allotment where Mark loved to sit and watch the birds, though he eventually became too weak to visit.

His loss was felt deeply not just by his family and childhood friends, but by the family's Yorkshire Terrier.

"She was my dog but she loved Mark - she was obsessed with him," Lesley recalled.

"After Mark died she was so lost. She used to look around the house for him. Just six months later, in October 2023, she died. I think he was brokenhearted."

Despite the doctor's initial apology and admission of the missed tumour, Lesley says she was forced to file a formal complaint after the hospital trust changed its tune.

"He never really showed that he was upset or frustrated with his diagnosis. He didn't say anything. But I was really upset about it and felt I had to put a complaint in," she explained.

"They kept saying they weren't at fault - denying liability. But they were at fault because they should've spotted it earlier. That would've meant Mark would've had more time to do what he enjoyed, and he also would've met his grandchild."

Dr Diane Adamson, UHNM Chief Medical Officer, said: "We offer our sincere sympathies to Mrs Shaw and her family, and remain committed to learning and improving our processes to ensure safe, high‑quality care."

Misdiagnosis claims at UHNM

New figures, obtained through a series of Freedom of Information requests by Medical Negligence Assist, have revealed that UHNM has paid out nearly £8 million in misdiagnosis-related medical negligence claims over the past six years.

Total damages of £7,967,358 were paid out by the trust between the years 2019/20 and 2024/25.

The statistics also revealed that 125 misdiagnosis claims were lodged against the Staffordshire-based trust over this period.

Of those, 80 claims were settled, meaning almost two-thirds of claimants were compensated.

Over the six-year period, the financial toll of misdiagnosis claims at UHNM broke down as follows:

• 2019/20: £1,342,222 (21 claims lodged)
• 2020/21: £1,060,600 (20 claims lodged)
• 2021/22: £3,531,331 (15 claims lodged)
• 2022/23: £494,452 (11 claims lodged)
• 2023/24: £0 (29 claims lodged)
• 2024/25: £1,538,753 (29 claims lodged)

UHNM explained that the claims data may include cases that have been incorrectly coded and require individual review.

Payments in one-year may also relate to care provided in earlier years, and cases may be settled without admission of liability.

This reflects the national picture as data reveals that NHS trusts across England have paid out more than £1.2 billion in misdiagnosis-related claims over the past six years, with nearly 10,000 claims lodged since 2019.

For Lesley, the statistics are a painful reminder of the extra years she lost with her husband.

"It's been hard. I really, really miss him a lot. He was always there for me for 25 years," she added.

Medical Negligence Assist offers expert legal support and advice to those affected by a misdiagnosis. To book a free consultation or call their 24-hour helpline, visit their website here.