A WOMAN who sued Southend Hospital after A&E doctors repeatedly failed to spot her cervical cancer has died.

Jemma Irwin, who would have celebrated her 40th birthday next month, died on Sunday after suffering a haemorrhage caused by her illness.

Miss Irwin, of Stromness Road, Southend, was repeatedly turned away from the hospital after suffering with severe pain and bleeding over five months.

She visited the hospital’s A&E department on four separate occasions in 2010, but was only diagnosed in December that year – five months after her first appointment.

Her mum, Erica Irwin, 61, of North Road, Shoebury, said: “She had gone on longer than we thought and she seemed to be doing well after her radiotherapy.

We thought she was getting better, but it all happened very quickly. We called the paramedics, but there was nothing they could do. She died quiet peacefully at home.

She would have been terrified of going back to A&E.

“She was looking forward to her birthday and to Christmas because she thought it might be her last, but she didn’t quite make it.”

Miss Irwin was first sent for gynaecological tests in July 2010 when doctors claimed her ultrasound results were normal.

In November, she was diagnosed with a urinary infection and it was not until December when doctors performed a laparoscopy they discovered she had cervical cancer, which had spread to her lymph nodes. Experts subsequently told Miss Irwin it was likely she had been suffering from the disease for nearly a year and she had only a 50-50 chance of survival.

She sued the hospital and was awarded in excess of £300,000 about ten weeks ago.

Erica added: “She shopped online at Harrods, but she thought most about others.

“She bought presents for friends and donated money to the Copes counselling service at Southend Hospital and to Dr Krishnaswamy Madhavan’s brachytherapy unit.

Sue Hardy, chief nurse said: “We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Jemma’s family at this very sad time.

“She was an extremely courageous woman who despite her initial poor experiences went on to praise and even support the care she received here at Southend Hospital, working with us to ensure her feedbackwas taken on board.

“Her generosity included making donations to our brachytherapy and oncology fundraising appeals for which we are extremely grateful.”

3,100 VICTIMS A YEAR IN THE UK

ABOUT 3,100 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK each year.

It is the most common cancer in women under 35 years old.

More than four million women are invited for cervical screening each year in England as early treatment can prevent these cervical changes developing into cancer.

Risk factors include infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV) which is the major cause of the main types of cervical cancer – squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma.

Since the most common form of cervical cancer starts with pre-cancerous changes, there are two ways to stop this disease from developing.

One way is to find and treat pre-cancers before they become true cancers, and the other is to prevent the precancers in the first place.

Experts say cervical cancer can usually be found early by having regular screening with a Pap test.

Being alert to any signs and symptoms of cervical cancer can also help avoid unnecessary delays in diagnosis.

Early detection greatly improves the chances of successful treatment and prevents any early cervical cell changes from becoming cancerous and potentially fatal.

Cervical cancer is the major cause of cancer death in women in many countries.

These cases are usually diagnosed at a late and invasive stage, rather than as precancers or early cancers.