A Yorkshire mum has faced life-altering consequences after vital cancer treatment was delayed for three years due to a misreported test result. Shannon Dunkley, a midwife from Wombwell, Barnsley, underwent her routine cervical smear test in January 2019. The screening identified ‘borderline’ abnormal changes and detected human papillomavirus (HPV), which is known to lead to cancer.
In addition, the test found high-grade pre-cancerous cell changes. However, instead of being referred to specialists for further evaluation, Shannon was told to return to her GP surgery for routine testing every three years—a decision that has since been described as a “breach of duty”, reported by the Yorkshire Live.
