The family of a nurse is suing the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for £200,000 after doctors failed to diagnose her bowel cancer. Glynis Pearson was failed three times by doctors who told her she had irritable bowel syndrome, then haemorrhoids and took out her appendix.

The family of a nurse is suing the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital for £200,000 after doctors failed to diagnose her bowel cancer.

Glynis Pearson was failed three times by doctors who told her she had irritable bowel syndrome, then haemorrhoids and took out her appendix.

It was a year-and-a-half before the cancer was properly diagnosed. By this time it was too late, the cancer had spread and could not be cured.

Had she got the proper treatment her family and solicitors claim she would still be alive.

While she was still alive Mrs Pearson, a psychiatric nurse, began a legal action for negligence against the N&N but died before it could be brought to court.

Now her three sons, Lee, 34, Wayne, 26, and John, 23, have taken up the claim.

Lee Pearson said: “We want to make sure we do all we can to carry on the claim for her and to make sure it doesn't happen to someone else's mother.”

Mrs Pearson, 51, who lived in Fakenham, and worked at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, began suffering from stomach pain in 2002.

She went to her GP, who first treated her for irritable bowel syndrome, before referring her to the N&N where she was diagnosed with haemorrhoids.

But she became increasingly ill and was admitted again in May 2003. Doctors diagnosed appendicitis and her appendix was removed. However, tests showed the appendix was not at fault.

An administrative error meant she was not seen by the doctors at the hospital again until August. She was not examined internally until October. This examination showed a bowel obstruction, and she underwent surgery. Tests showed she had cancer and it had spread to her lungs.

At this point she was told there was nothing that could be done to cure her. She died on July 30, 2005.

According to the legal claim, which has been lodged at the High Court in London, Mrs Pearson was aware of her imminent death for 21 months and “suffered very considerable pain and distress during the last months of her life”.

The Pearson family solicitor Sarah Coles, of Kester Cunningham John, said: “The allegations are that the hospital was negligent in failing to refer Glynis for urgent investigations in February 2003 which would have led to an earlier diagnosis of cancer.”

The N&N denies responsibility and is fighting the case. A hospital spokesman said: “We cannot comment further at this time.”