A man has secured compensation after a delay in receiving test results showing that he had tuberculosis.

The man had visited a GP as he was experiencing excessive sweating. He returned to the GP surgery soon afterwards and a blood test was carried out, but he did not receive the results until nearly five months afterwards. The results indicated that he had tuberculosis. He was urgently referred to hospital, where he was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and put on medication. He continues to suffer from breathlessness on exertion and aching in his chest, and has been assessed as having a 10 per cent respiratory disability.

He sought legal advice, and it was established that the test results had been sent to the wrong GP surgery. As a result of the delay, the man had increased residual scarring and severity of lung damage.

It was unclear who was responsible for keeping the contact details for the GP surgery up to date. The clinical commissioning group (CCG) and the laboratory that performed the test both denied that they were the correct defendant. Court proceedings were issued against them and the surgery, after which the CCG and the laboratory agreed to settle the claim. The claim against the surgery was discontinued.