THE family of a Cumbrian man, who died of lung cancer after wrongly being told he was cancer-free, has secured a five-figure settlement.

Terry Wilson, a tarmacer from Aspatria, died from lung cancer in October 2018, aged 57.

He first started experiencing health issues in 2016, after suffering with flu-like symptoms.

In the spring of 2017, he was diagnosed with lung cancer at Cumberland Infirmary.

He was told it was stage two cancer and was both operable and curable.

He was subsequently transferred to Freeman Hospital in Newcastle for the tumour to be removed.

Unfortunately, the surgery conducted at Freeman Hospital left cancerous tissue behind.

Despite this, he was later told by the medical team at Cumberland Infirmary that he was cancer-free.

Following a deterioration in his symptoms, he was again diagnosed with cancer in February 2018 and moved immediately into palliative care, but he died eight months later. 

Mr Wilson and his wife Alyson contacted national law firm Thompsons Solicitors to start a negligence claim shortly before he passed away. 

She said she has been left angered and frustrated by the treatment they received from both hospitals.

She added: “We’re still heartbroken that Terry is no longer with us.

“We were wrongly given the all-clear and could not spend quality time with him due to the rapid deterioration in his health.

“It’s very frustrating to know that Terry’s quality of life could have been made so much better with the right care and treatment.

“No one should have to go through the worry and uncertainty he went through.”

Lyndsay Gibbons, clinical negligence lawyer at Thompsons who represented the Wilson family, said: “This has been an incredibly distressing time for the family.

“Mr Wilson and his family were badly let down.

“He was not given the right level of care and treatment by both NHS Trusts.

“Although no amount of money can undo the ongoing distress our client is experiencing due to the medical negligence Mr Wilson suffered, we’re pleased we could secure a satisfactory compensation settlement to allow Mrs Wilson and her family to move on with their lives with financial security.”

A spokesperson from North Cumbria Integrated Care said: “We offer our sincere condolences to Mrs Wilson and family for their loss and we apologise for the errors made during Mr Wilson’s care.”