'Not cancer' patient claims costs

John Brandrick sold most of his possessions

A man who spent his life's savings after learning that he had terminal cancer is seeking compensation from a hospital after his diagnosis changed.

John Brandrick from Newquay was first told by Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske that he had pancreatic cancer and later diagnosed with pancreatitis.

The 62-year-old said after "living life to the full" he has to sell his home.

The Royal Cornwall Hospital's NHS Trust sympathised with him but said there was "no clear evidence of negligence".

Mr Brandrick said his life had been turned "upside-down" as a result of the new diagnosis of pancreatitis, an inflamation of the pancreas.

I got rid of everything - my car, my clothes, everything John Brandrick

"If they have made the wrong decision they should pay me something back.

"I was told certainly, by the doctor, that I had cancer and from that day I lived life in full.

"I was told I had limited time to live. I got rid of everything - my car, my clothes, everything."

He said he would be seeking an out-of-court settlement as he did not want to pay solicitors' fees.

A spokesman for the Royal Cornwall Hospital's NHS Trust said the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer was based on the outcome of a series of investigations and the symptoms that Mr Brandrick was experiencing early in 2005.

He said: "Whilst we do sympathise with Mr Brandrick's position, clinical review of his case has not revealed that any different diagnosis would have been made at the time based on the same evidence.

"The NHS Litigation Authority has agreed that there is no clear evidence of negligence in Mr Brandrick's treatment."