Roger Wood

Mr Roger William Wood was diagnosed as suffering from an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm ("AAA") and since 2005 had been subject to surveillance to monitor that condition. On 5th June 2017 Mr Wood underwent an ultrasound scan that measured the AAA to be 5.5 ems in AP diameter. The measurement was significant, the AAA had grown to a size where the risks presented by the condition outweighed the risk of treatment, accordingly at this point, Mr Wood ought to have been referred for treatment. In 2017 the local procedure in cases of this type was for imaging reports to be sent to the patient's GP, and for the GP to refer the matter to a vascular surgery specialist.

A report of the scan was sent to Mr Wood's GP, Dr, by the hospital sonographer utilising an electronic reporting system Cyberlab. The scan was received by Dr - s surgery, but not acted upon. Mr Wood was not referred to a specialist. The following year, the annual scan measured the AAA to be 5.96 ems in diameter. This time, the results were properly assessed by the GP and a referral was made to vascular surgeons. The referral led to a plan to treat the AAA with an "EVAR" stent. Regrettably, Mr Wood could not undertake this treatment as before the appointed date he sustained a fatal rupture to the AAA on 12/2/19. Expert evidence heard by this court confirmed that had a similar treatment plan been commenced in 2017, it is likely that Mr Wood would have been protected from a future AAA rupture for life.