Trust apologises for smear blunder death

Deborah Morgan complained of bleeding

The husband of a woman who died of cancer after eight smear tests were misread has vowed to expose the medical blunders involved.

Doctor Deborah Morgan, 45, had believed she was suffering from cancer due to blood loss in 1992.

Paul Morgan: 'More angry with each day'

But over a period of four years, she was repeatedly told she was suffering from a hormone imbalance.

Abnormal cells had been found in tests, but Mrs Morgan was told they were not cancerous.

Her illness was only detected after she was admitted to the Princess of Wales Hospital, in Bridgend, after collapsing because of severe blood loss in July 1996.

Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust has admitted errors were made and agreed to a £28,000 interim payment, four months before her death.

But her husband Paul Morgan, from Bridgend, said the money would never replace Deborah, who died four weeks ago.

He has pledged to fight on and highlight the "travesties" of his wife's treatment.

I owe it to Deborah to make sure this never happens to another woman

Paul Morgan, victim's husband

"When the mistakes were learned, she intended to expose all the major mess ups," said Mr Morgan.

"I watched my beautiful wife die in agony. If the doctors had got it right she would still be here today.

"She was the love of my life and I've lost her because they did not do their job properly.

"I owe it to Deborah to make sure this never happens to another woman."

Smear queries: Eight tests were taken

Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust issued a statement saying it "greatly regretted the errors".

"We admitted liability, provided an interim payment and instructed our legal advisers to settle the case as quickly as possible."

Mr Morgan has donated part of the interim payment by Bro Morgannwg to Velindre Hospital in Cardiff, where his wife was treated.

Cervical Screening Wales, the organisation which oversees the screening programme in Wales, said it was happy that the current practices in Bridgend met the required standards.