Man, 34, died of cancer after GPs dismissed concerns as ‘anxiety’
A 34-year-old man died of cancer after GPs repeatedly dismissed his concerns as “muscular pain” and “anxiety”, an inquest heard.
Oliver Philpott, 34, called his GP practice at least six times during the Covid-19 lockdown complaining of a severe pain in his back and long-term fatigue.
He was repeatedly assessed over the phone instead of being seen face-to-face by a doctor, the inquest heard.
Mr Philpott finally saw his GP at the medical centre four months after he first reported symptoms. He died three days later.
A post-mortem found he had a large 20cm tumour wrapped around his heart and lungs.
The aggressive sarcoma had infiltrated his right lung and had eventually caused pulmonary emboli, which led to a heart attack that killed him.
In a double family tragedy, his father, Anthony, later took his own life.
Triage system at medical centre
On Tuesday at an inquest in Hastings into Mr Philpott’s death, his doctor, Fiona Warner, said Covid-19 had restricted the number of patients doctors could see in person.
As a result, a triage system had been introduced at her practice, Rye Medical Centre in East Sussex.
Mr Philpott, who had only rarely seen a doctor, first called the surgery in February 2021 complaining of long-term fatigue and persistent back pain.
Dr George Taggart assessed him over the phone and ordered blood tests which showed he had a slightly elevated white blood cell count – normally associated with the body fighting an infection or inflammation – and low vitamin D levels.
Mr Philpott was given the all-clear and told to take a vitamin D supplement.
In April he called the surgery again where he was triaged by Jamie Clarke, a paramedic practitioner, who he told that his back pain was not improving.
He said he had given up weight-lifting in the gym as a result but was continuing to feel tired and anxious.
Mr Clarke prescribed painkiller Naproxen and referred the builder and beach warden to Nicola Bamford, a physiotherapist, who carried out a phone assessment on April 30.
On May 7 he attended a face-to-face appointment with the physiotherapist who felt he was able to carry out the exercise assessments with ease. She deduced his pain was muscular-skeletal and gave him breathing exercises to deal with his anxiety.
The inquest heard that despite telling the physiotherapist his pain levels were sometimes eight out of 10, she did not refer him back to the GPs.
However, Mr Philpott called the medical centre again saying he was still struggling with bad back pain, was having difficulty sleeping and continued to be anxious.
Antidepressant prescribed
The inquest heard that on May 11 he had a telephone consultation with Dr Warner during which he told her about his symptoms and was prescribed an antidepressant to help with his anxiety.
On June 2 he again phoned and told the paramedic practitioner he still had constant back pain but now had swelling in his arms and legs. He also said he was suffering from fatigue, wasn’t able to sleep and was still suffering anxiety as a result.
Mr Philpott was told to call back if the pain in his back dramatically increased and the call ended.
On June 11, his father called Rye Medical Centre and said he was seriously worried about his son who he said was very ill, had lost a huge amount of weight and couldn’t get out of bed.
However, Dr Taggart told him he could not discuss his son’s case without prior permission being granted by the 34-year-old.
On June 15 Mr Philpott’s sister Victoria succeeded in obtaining an appointment at the surgery and pushed her brother into the consulting room in a wheelchair.
Dr Warner told the inquest: “He was probably one of the most unwell people I have seen come into a GP surgery. No previous history given earlier would have told us he was so unwell.”
She referred Mr Philpott to A&E and he was immediately admitted to Conquest Hospital in Hastings before being transferred to intensive care, where he died three days later.
Dr Warner told the family that Covid-19 had limited the number of patients the surgery could see and they had introduced a triage system to assess patients.
Victoria said: “Well then, it didn’t work.”
Dr Warner said if Mr Philpott had reported his symptoms now, he would have been given a face-to-face appointment.
Fiona King, the East Sussex Coroner, adjourned the hearing and will deliver her findings next week.
After the hearing, Victoria said: “Oliver was left so long without being diagnosed that when he turned up at the hospital he just didn’t stand a chance.
“I feel the system the GP practice introduced after the outbreak of Covid wasn’t fit for purpose. They should have seen him in person and put a stethoscope in his back. I feel the so-called triage system contributed to my brother’s death.”