Mother of two Aimee Wood, 39, was made to undergo surgery after going for an NHS smear test and receiving the wrong results telling her that they came back as normal.
This smear test error by Wolverhampton Hospital then led Miss Wood to have an invasive hysterectomy surgery that she did not need.
Even though her smear test results returned as normal she had a high risk of Human papillomavirus, HPV is a virus that can cause cervical cancer if left untreated for a large amount of time.
What is a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is a surgery to remove the uterus from the body, Ms. Wood has expressed that she is not able to have any more children as she had planned to have with her new partner due to the invasive surgery that she was made to have.
Ms. Wood stated:
“I am angry over it because it’s not only [meant] I can’t have any children again, [but also] I’ve lost my trust medically.
The importance of early HPV detection
Ms. Wood has also said that this experience of medical negligence has been “deeply upsetting” .
A smear test is done by taking a small sample of cells from the cervix during an appointment the purpose of the test is to look for abnormal changes in cells that could potentially lead to cervical cancer, Aimee Wood is currently working with a medical negligence lawyer Kathryn Salt.
Legal action and NHS response
Salt’s firm have said if the smear had been reported accurately, Aimee Wood would have been referred within weeks for excision treatment and would have avoided the development of cancer and would have not needed a hysterectomy.
The Royal Wolverhampton Trust have responded to Ms. Woods claims by saying:
“The trust always strives to deliver safe and appropriate care to all our patients. Sadly, on this occasion we fell short.
“We are working with Ms. Wood’s representatives to achieve an appropriate resolution and will ensure all learnings from this case are taken forward.”
Why regular smear tests are crucial
Diagnosing HPV early is vital to make sure that it does not lead to cervical cancer in a stage where it is much harder to guarantee the success of treatment.
Some people who have cervical cancer may not show any symptoms at all, this is why it is crucial to attend smear test and cervical screening appointments. the development of cervical cancer is mostly prevalent amongst younger females aged between 30 and 34.
The case above emphasises how important early HPV detection and accurate cervical screenings are, with Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 2025 having taken place this year, it is never too late to encourage regular checkups and spread awareness about the topic.
If you want more information on this topic, please look at the NHS cervical screening guidelines and if you would like to book a test contact your healthcare provider.
Further reading
Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 2025 – Oakwood Solicitors
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Article by – Saafia Hussain
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