A surgeon later told how the little girl’s tumour

A surgeon later told how the little girl’s tumour was visibly growing as he watched.

Munther Haddad, consultant paediatric surgeon at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, said the lump was measured 25 centimetres by 25 centimetres when she arrived.

And within four hours it had swelled to measure 30 centimetres in diameter.

He told the hearing: ‘We noticed that the abdomen distension was increasing before our eyes.

‘By the evening the patient had deteriorated further.

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Another doctor told the committee that regardless of Dr Singh’s claim that the girl’s mother failed to mention all the symptoms, he should have carried out an examination at the first appointment.

Dr Peter Leigh, who tutors trainee GPs in Poole, Dorset, said: ‘He should have examined the abdomen to determine whether any disease inside her abdomen might be calling these symptoms.

‘I would expect a general examination of her to assess whether she appeared well or unwell.

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Dr Leigh also said that many GPs now refer patients to a specialist automatically if they complain of the same symptoms three times.

He said: ‘On December 15, 1998 this was the third time in weeks that Miss A had presented to Dr Singh and this should arouse suspicion that something is amiss.

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He added that in Dr Singh’s letter to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, the GP made no mention of a stomach lump.

And asked what his reaction would be if a patient reported passing blood he added: ‘I would regard this as a very significant symptom which would warrant further investigation.

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The hearing continues tomorrow.

(TUES)
ends