Carpenter died after doctor 'thought tumour was a computer error'

A self-employed carpenter died after hospital doctors thought his sickness and headaches caused by a tumour were due to appendicitis and that a scan revealing an anomaly in his brain was a computer error.

Joshua Warner, ,25,  experienced headaches and sickness in June 2023 but after a CT scan in hospital he  was diagnosed him with appendicitis.

After having surgery to remove his appendix, he was sent home but was re-admitted to hospital hours later after feeling sick.

Another scan revealed an anomaly on his brain, but he was allegedly told it was a computer error and doctors discharged him again.

After a few trips to the emergency department, Joshua Warner, a father of one, eventually collapsed in his grandparents’ bathroom and was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich, for another CT scan.

Further tests revealed a large brain tumour that had spread from the right side of his brain to the back and brain stem, and he was moved to an oncology ward.

In early September, a biopsy revealed the tumour to be an aggressive brain cancer, midline glioma.

Joshua’s family say they were told he had three months to live but he died 12 days later, at Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice.

Paying tribute to her ‘fun’ and ‘prankster’ son, Joshua’s mum, Eve Pateman, said: ‘He loved making people laugh. ‘He was an amazing dad, brother and a brilliant son. He was just a fantastic man.’

Eve Pateman, from Bexleyheath, said that Joshua wanted to share his story to highlight the symptoms of a brain tumour and encourage others to push for a diagnosis.

She said: ‘He did not want another person to go through what he went through. We quickly began working with Brain Tumour research. He just wanted to give even during his hardest time.’

Joshua was survived by his four-year-old son, Andrew, and a fundraising page that raised nearly £20,000 for his treatment will now be put into a fund for the youngster.

His mother added: ‘We have been massively supported by the community and our family. People have been unbelievably generous. I have just been overwhelmed by the generosity of businesses and people.

‘It was Joshua’s wish for the money raised to go into a trust fund for his son. It is a really beautiful legacy he has been able to leave him.’

A spokesperson for the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust said it was examining the case.