Laura Barlow, a 33-year-old mother of three, was misdiagnosed during a telephone GP appointment, which contributed to her death from cancer four months later. After experiencing severe abdominal pain, her husband Michael was advised to take her to an Urgent Care Center, where she received inadequate treatment. Ultimately, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer affecting 95% of her liver and intestines. Michael is now advocating for compulsory face-to-face GP appointments, having launched a petition that has gathered over 130,000 signatures. He believes earlier blood tests could have extended Laura’s life. She passed away on February 6.
A mother-of-three was misdiagnosed during a telephone GP appointment four months before she died from cancer.
A grieving husband who watched his wife die in his arms is now calling for telephone appointments with GPs to be abolished.
Laura Barlow, 33, had just married her husband Michael when she began to feel unwell, suffering from abdominal pain and blood in her poop.
The couple has three children: Bella Mia, Summer Akie, and Bonnie Ray.
In October 2023, she was diagnosed with endometriosis during a phone call with her GP at Stickney Surgery in Lincolnshire.
Her GP prescribed her painkillers and scheduled her for a gynecological appointment at Pilgrim Hospital.
Two months later, while at work, she started experiencing severe pain in her abdomen. Michael tried to take her to her GP, but was instead advised to visit the hospital’s Urgent Care Center (UTC), where she was given morphine to deal with the pain.
After being stuck in the waiting room for more than two hours, Michael claims doctors fired him because Laura was already being treated for endometriosis.
Michael said: “I went to the emergency room, was examined and given morphine to relieve the pain.
Mike Barlow and Laura Barlow get married with their three children
Laura Barlow died just months after first phoning to make an appointment with her GP.
“After waiting for two hours, she was seen by a doctor who told her there was no point in treating her for endometriosis as she was already being treated for it.”
A week later, on New Year’s Eve, Barlow was taken to the hospital complaining of abdominal pain and was asked to return on January 2 for an ultrasound.
Scans revealed lesions on her liver and she was placed on a two-week cancer pathway.
A few weeks later, in mid-January, she was admitted to the A&E department of Pilgrim Hospital, where she was eventually diagnosed with cancer.
Michael said, “When I heard she had cancer, I was shocked. I thought it would be okay to have a little bit of her liver removed, and that she would be able to live without cancer.” We thought she was fine. ”
On February 2nd, Michael and Laura were scheduled to vacation at Center Parcs with their children. While the children were out with Laura’s sister, the couple heard the shocking news about Laura’s cancer.
Laura was told that she had 95% cancer in her liver and intestines and was now in the terminal stage.
“They told her to go home and spend time with her children.”
Michael is currently calling for face-to-face GP appointments to be made compulsory, with an online petition gathering over 130,000 signatures.
Michael is raising three children as a single mother with the support of her family.
Michael and Laura met up with their children at Center Parcs and enjoyed their final family vacation together.
Laura was confined to a wheelchair and took morphine for pain during the short trip.
A few days after the vacation, Laura’s condition continued to deteriorate.
She sadly passed away on February 6th.
Michael said: “I called her father and asked him to come over and help her. The doctors gave her some things to help her relax.
“She fell asleep in my arms with me. I woke up hearing other people saying to me, ‘Mike, she’s gone.’ ”
Michael believes he should have gotten a blood test sooner.
“I’m angry because it’s all about what-ifs,” he said.
Michael believes Laura might have had a better chance of survival if she had gotten blood tests sooner.
Michael and Laura had just gotten married when she started feeling pain in her abdomen.
“I’m not saying she wouldn’t have died, but could she have been with us for another six months?”
Almost a year has passed since then, and Michael is now raising three children as a single mother with the support of her family.
He said: “I have three children, ages 2, 3 and 10. I have a wonderful family who support me as much as they can every day.
“But it’s hard. I’m asking my 3-year-old if mommy is coming home. I have to tell her that she is now with her nanny and that they are both watching over us. ”
After Laura’s death, Michael started a petition calling on the government to require face-to-face consultations for all GP appointments.
The petition has already gathered over 130,000 signatures.
“Many people say they are now going to see a doctor instead of talking on the phone,” he said.
“If a person wants to see a doctor, they should have that right. If someone had looked at her, things might have been different. My wife never got it right. I didn’t.”
A spokesperson for United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Pilgrim Hospital and Stickney Surgery, said: “Lincolnshire NHS would like to once again express our deepest condolences to Laura’s family.” Ta.
“Due to patient confidentiality, we are unable to comment on individual cases, but we will continue to speak to Laura’s family about their concerns as appropriate.”