A man who died of cancer just three days after he was first seen by a doctor may have been diagnosed earlier if it hadn’t been for Covid, an inquest heard.
Oliver Philpott, 34, called his GP practice at least six times during the Covid lockdown complaining of long-term fatigue, anxiety and back pain.
But due to pandemic rules restricting the number of face-to-face GP appointments he was repeatedly assessed over the phone instead.
Four months after he first reported symptoms Mr Philpott finally saw his GP at the surgery – he died three days later.
In a double family tragedy, his father, Anthony – wracked by guilt and grief over the death of his son – subsequently took his own life.
Oliver Philpott, 34, called his GP practice at least six times during the Covid lockdown complaining of long-term fatigue, anxiety and back pain
Anthony Philpott – wracked by guilt and grief over the death of his son – subsequently took his own life
A post mortem later found the 34-year-old had a large 20cm tumour wrapped around his heart and lungs.
The aggressive cancer had infiltrated his right lung and had eventually caused pulmonary emboli which led to a cardiac arrest that killed him.
An inquest into Oliver’s death in Hastings heard a GP triage system had been introduced by the NHS during the pandemic to restrict face-to-face appointments to prevent the spread of the disease.
As a result a triage system had been introduced at Oliver’s doctors’ practice, Rye Medical Centre, East Sussex.
Fiona King, senior coroner for East Sussex, said: ‘This is not a case where I can find a failure to have a system in place.
‘However the emergency Covid triage system may have had a deleterious affect in Oliver’s prospects of earlier diagnosis and treatment.’
After the inquest his sister, Victoria, said: ‘The failure to diagnose Oliver and the inadequate systems put in place highlight how ill-prepared we were for the pandemic.’
Mr Philpott, who had only rarely seen a doctor, first called the surgery in February 2021 complaining of long-term fatigue.
Dr George Taggart assessed him over the phone and ordered blood tests which showed he had a slightly elevated white blood cell count and low Vitamin D levels.
A higher white blood cell count is normally associated with the body fighting an infection or inflammation.
Mr Philpott was given the all clear and told to take a Vitamin D supplement.
However on April 29 Mr Philpott called the surgery again where he was triaged by paramedic practitioner, Jamie Clarke.
Mr Philpott told the paramedic the back pain he had suffered since January 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 a painkiller and referred the builder and to physiotherapist, Nicola Bamford, who carried out a phone assessment on April 30.
On May 7 he saw the physiotherapist in a face-to-face appointment who felt he was able to carry out the exercise assessments with ease.
As a result 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.
On May 11 Mr Philpott had a telephone consultation with Dr Warner, the inquest heard, where he told her about his symptoms.
Without seeing him in person she prescribed an anti-depressant to help with his anxiety.
A doctor said if Mr Philpott had reported his symptoms now then he would have been given a face-to-face appointment
On June 2 he phoned back again 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, Anthony, called Rye Medical Centre and said he was seriously worried about his son.
He said his son was very ill and had lost a huge amount of weight and couldn’t get out bed.
However Dr Taggart told him he could not discuss his son’s case without prior permission being granted by the 34-year.
On June 15 his sister Victoria succeeded to obtaining an appointment at the surgery and pushed her poorly 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.’
But Dr Warner also said that the medical history previously provided by Mr Philpott, gave no indication that he was so unwell.
She referred Mr Philpott to A&E and he was immediately admitted to Conquest Hospital, Hastings before being transferred to intensive care where he died three days later.
Dr Warner told the family Covid had limited the number of patients the surgery could see and they had introduced a triage system to assess patients.
Victoria Philpott said: ‘Well then, it didn’t work.’
Dr Warner said if Mr Philpott had reported his symptoms now then he would have been given a face-to-face appointment.
Recording a narrative conclusion coroner Mrs King said: ‘Oliver died of complications of a very rare and very aggressive cancer which caused strangulation of the blood flow to his heart and lungs.
‘An opportunity to diagnose his illness by way of a face-to-face examination by the GP did not occur due to national NHS Covid restrictions requiring triaging of patients and telephone appointments.’
After the inquest hearing his sister, Victoria, said: ‘Oliver may not have died from Covid but the pandemic effectively killed him.
‘The inquest heard he probably would have been seen earlier but for the Covid triage system which failed him.
‘We don’t blame anyone but it shows how ill-prepared we were for the pandemic.
‘Oliver isn’t the only person to die as a result of this lack of effective pandemic planning but I just hope that by highlighting his case some good can come of it and improve how we respond in the future.’
For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit
