HEALTH chiefs have strenuously denied claims of a 'cover up' over allegations that negligence led to the death of a 50-year-old mother of two.

Carol Tudor, of Webheath, died of bowel cancer in May despite complaining of symptoms for nearly three years.

Her family claims Alexandra Hospital consultant Richard Tudor failed to diagnose the disease and it was only after Mrs Tudor went to a private hospital in Birmingham that her cancer was detected.

Despite a successful operation to remove the large tumour, the cancer had spread to her liver and she died weeks later.

The Tudors, who are not related to the consultant, have engaged a specialist lawyer and are suing Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

They have also reported Mr Tudor to the General Medical Council.

The cover up claim comes after two separate investigations were carried out into Mrs Tudor's case but a letter from the trust to the family referred to only one report.

A barium enema performed on Mrs Tudor in July 1999 showed an abnormality in the colon. Mr Tudor performed a colonoscopy two months later but reported finding nothing wrong.

She was seen several times again complaining of the same symptoms but another colonoscopy was not carried out.

In a report last August, independent consultant Mr RJ Reynolds said that in his opinion, there had been negligence and expressed concern over her treatment.

Mr Reynolds, a consultant surgeon in Derby, concluded: "Having reviewed the barium enema films myself and given the fact that Mrs Tudor continued to complain of symptoms - believe that it was negligent to have omitted to perform a repeat examination with a colonoscope.

"He (Mr Tudor) cannot say that the clinical features were not typical of colorectal malignancy because they clearly were."

A second report in November by the trust's own consultant, Stephen Bridger, concluded a malignant or pre-malignant polyp was 'inadvertently missed.'

Mr Bridger added that 'at the time these decisions were made, the investigations and management do seem reasonably appropriate.'

The trust's chief executive, Ruth Harrison, wrote to the Tudors last month.

Widower Calvin Tudor said: "In Ruth Harrison's letter it details parts of the report by the trust's own consultant but makes no mention of the report by Mr Reynolds."

The family say they finally got a copy of Mr Reynolds' report after pursuing the trust for weeks and even threatening to stage a sit-in at the Alex.

Calvin Tudor said: "Ruth Harrison didn't mention that report in her letter. It seems to us they have closed ranks and we think it is a cover up."

Ms Harrison's letter states: "The investigation suggests that your late wife was appropriately seen and managed initially in the outpatient clinic and appropriate investigations were carried out."

It adds that "in hindsight, it is probable that a malignant or pre-malignant sigmoid polyp was inadvertently missed by the endoscopic examination".

Ms Harrison also offers her 'unreserved apologies' to the family.

In a statement to the Advertiser, the trust said:

"We would again like to express our sympathy to Mr Tudor and his family, who are understandably extremely upset by their loss.

"At no stage have we attempted to cover up or otherwise conceal the findings of any of our enquiries into Mrs Tudor's case.

"In our letter of 6 December 2002 to Mr Tudor, confirming the outcome of our investigation, we said that it appeared probable that an endoscopic examination - carried out in September 1999 at the Alexandra Hospital - had inadvertently missed a malignant or pre-malignant polyp. We have offered our unreserved apologies for this.

"Our conclusion was drawn from a trust investigation, which involved reviewing case notes, taking statements from all staff involved, an independent report from an external surgeon and an internal expert opinion.

"We wrote to Mr Calvin Tudor, telling him this investigation was being carried out and giving him the name of the external reviewer. We continued to keep Mr Tudor informed during the course of our enquiries and we subsequently sent him a full written response based on those enquiries.

"We were happy to make copies of both expert reports available to Mr Tudor and they were dispatched to him by first class post on the day he requested them.

"The trust has at all times responded openly to Mr Tudor. We strenuously deny any allegations of a cover-up.

"The trust would also wish to stress that Richard Tudor is a well respected and very experienced consultant and is held in high regard by his colleagues and local GPs."