The emotional impact of discovering your smear results were misread | Nash & Co Solicitors
Written by Mike Shiers and Rebecca Brisley | Medical Negligence team | 13 February 2026
Discovering that your smear test was misread can be an incredibly distressing experience. For many women, attending regular cervical screenings is a responsible and often reassuring part of protecting their health. You trust that the test will detect early signs of abnormal cells and, if necessary, prompt timely treatment. When you later learn that your smear was misinterpreted or overlooked and that cervical cancer has developed as a result, it can leave you feeling angry, frightened, and betrayed.
It isn’t just the diagnosis itself that’s upsetting, but the knowledge that it could have been caught sooner. This realisation can bring a mix of emotions that are hard to process, from disbelief and sadness to frustration and loss of trust in the healthcare system. These reactions are normal and acknowledging them is an important step in beginning to move forward.
What this article will cover
In this article, we explore the emotional and psychological effects of discovering your smear test was misread, how to find the right support, and what steps you can take to regain control. We’ll also explain how Nash & Co Solicitors can guide you through the process of seeking answers and, if appropriate, help you bring a medical negligence claim in a way that feels sensitive and fully supported.
Understanding the emotional impact
Being told that your smear was misread can shake your confidence in healthcare professionals and systems you once trusted completely. It’s common to feel a deep sense of injustice, especially if you attended all your routine screenings and followed medical advice.
People in this situation often experience a mix of emotions, such as:
Shock and disbelief: It can be difficult to accept that something as serious as cancer was missed in a routine test.
Anger or resentment: You might feel angry that your results weren’t read correctly or that you weren’t told sooner.
Guilt or self-blame: Many people unfairly wonder if they should have pushed harder for answers or spotted the signs themselves.
Anxiety about the future: A delayed diagnosis can make you question your health and worry about recurrence.
Loss of trust: It can be hard to feel confident in future tests, doctors, or treatment decisions.
These feelings are completely understandable. The emotional impact can sometimes be as significant as the physical effects of the illness itself.
Coping with feelings of betrayal and frustration
When mistakes happen in healthcare, the sense of betrayal can feel personal. You trusted professionals to protect your health, and that trust has been broken. You might find yourself replaying past appointments or imagining what could have been different.
Coping with these feelings takes time, but there are ways to start processing them:
Talk to someone you trust: Sharing how you feel with family, friends, or a counsellor can help you make sense of your emotions. Bottling things up can make the situation feel even heavier.
Seek emotional support services: Many cancer support charities and organisations offer free or low-cost counselling for those affected by medical errors, as well as specialist helplines and online forums where you can talk to others who understand.
Focus on regaining control: Finding out what happened, understanding why, and exploring your options can help you start to regain a sense of control. Speaking to an experienced solicitor can form part of this process, as they can explain whether the error amounts to negligence and what your next steps could be.
When the misread smear leads to a delayed diagnosis
One of the hardest parts of discovering your smear was misread is knowing that it may have caused a delay in diagnosing cervical cancer. For some, this means their condition is more advanced, requiring more invasive treatment. For others, it can mean a longer recovery or lasting effects on fertility and overall health.
These consequences often deepen the emotional distress, especially when combined with the thought that earlier detection could have prevented the need for major surgery or chemotherapy. The feeling of lost time and opportunities, whether related to health, work, or family life, can weigh heavily.
It’s completely normal to grieve the version of events that should have happened. Processing these emotions is part of healing, and professional psychological support can help you manage anxiety, trauma, and anger.
The importance of counselling and psychological support
Psychological care is just as important as physical treatment after a cervical cancer diagnosis, particularly where negligence may have played a role. Therapy or counselling provides a safe, structured environment to talk through what happened, reduce feelings of blame, and begin to rebuild trust.
If you’re struggling, your GP can refer you for counselling through the NHS, or you can self-refer for talking therapies in many areas. Charities also provide specialist support groups, including virtual sessions for those unable to attend in person. Many people find that sharing experiences with others who’ve been through similar circumstances can be a lifeline.
It can also be helpful to ask your legal team to recommend local counsellors or organisations that support clients during claims. At Nash & Co Solicitors, we regularly signpost clients to trusted support services in Plymouth, Devon, Cornwall, and beyond.
Why making a claim isn’t just about compensation
For many people, making a claim following a misread smear test isn’t driven by money. It’s about accountability, closure, and ensuring that others don’t experience the same mistake. Bringing a claim can help:
Uncover what went wrong and why
Encourage hospitals and laboratories to improve their systems
Secure financial support for treatment, recovery, and lost income
Provide a sense of justice and recognition for what you’ve been through
Knowing that lessons may be learned from your case can sometimes help you move forward emotionally. It can transform feelings of helplessness into something constructive and empowering.
Practical steps to take if you’ve been affected
If you believe your smear test was misread, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself and begin exploring your options:
Request your medical records: Ask your GP or screening provider for copies of your test results, correspondence, and referral notes. This is your legal right to access them and can help establish what happened.
Make a written complaint: If you feel able, you can submit a formal complaint to the hospital or NHS Trust responsible. This can trigger an internal investigation, which may reveal more information.
Seek specialist legal advice: A solicitor with experience in medical negligence can review your records and advise whether the misread test could amount to negligence. They can also outline what compensation could cover, such as ongoing treatment, therapy, and loss of earnings.
How Nash & Co Solicitors can help
At Nash & Co Solicitors, we understand how emotional and overwhelming it can feel to discover that your smear was misread. Our medical negligence team has helped many clients across Plymouth, Devon, Cornwall, and throughout the UK to find answers and seek justice with sensitivity and care.
We take the time to listen, explain the process clearly and help you make informed decisions at your own pace. Most cases are handled on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning you only pay if your case succeeds.
If you’d like to talk to one of our experienced solicitors about what happened, please call 01752 827067 or email medneg@nash.co.uk. We can arrange a free consultation to discuss your situation, review your records, and outline your next steps with no pressure or obligation.
The importance of counselling and psychological support
Psychological care is just as important as physical treatment after a cervical cancer diagnosis, particularly where negligence may have played a role. Therapy or counselling provides a safe, structured environment to talk through what happened, reduce feelings of blame, and begin to rebuild trust.
If you’re struggling, your GP can refer you for counselling through the NHS, or you can self-refer for talking therapies in many areas. Charities also provide specialist support groups, including virtual sessions for those unable to attend in person. Many people find that sharing experiences with others who’ve been through similar circumstances can be a lifeline.
It can also be helpful to ask your legal team to recommend local counsellors or organisations that support clients during claims. At Nash & Co Solicitors, we regularly signpost clients to trusted support services in Plymouth, Devon, Cornwall, and beyond.
Why making a claim isn’t just about compensation
For many people, making a claim following a misread smear test isn’t driven by money. It’s about accountability, closure, and ensuring that others don’t experience the same mistake. Bringing a claim can help:
Uncover what went wrong and why
Encourage hospitals and laboratories to improve their systems
Secure financial support for treatment, recovery, and lost income
Provide a sense of justice and recognition for what you’ve been through
Knowing that lessons may be learned from your case can sometimes help you move forward emotionally. It can transform feelings of helplessness into something constructive and empowering.
Practical steps to take if you’ve been affected
If you believe your smear test was misread, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself and begin exploring your options:
Request your medical records: Ask your GP or screening provider for copies of your test results, correspondence, and referral notes. This is your legal right to access them and can help establish what happened.
Make a written complaint: If you feel able, you can submit a formal complaint to the hospital or NHS Trust responsible. This can trigger an internal investigation, which may reveal more information.
Seek specialist legal advice: A solicitor with experience in medical negligence can review your records and advise whether the misread test could amount to negligence. They can also outline what compensation could cover, such as ongoing treatment, therapy, and loss of earnings.
How Nash & Co Solicitors can help
At Nash & Co Solicitors, we understand how emotional and overwhelming it can feel to discover that your smear was misread. Our medical negligence team has helped many clients across Plymouth, Devon, Cornwall, and throughout the UK to find answers and seek justice with sensitivity and care.
We take the time to listen, explain the process clearly and help you make informed decisions at your own pace. Most cases are handled on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning you only pay if your case succeeds.
If you’d like to talk to one of our experienced solicitors about what happened, please call 01752 827067 or email medneg@nash.co.uk. We can arrange a free consultation to discuss your situation, review your records, and outline your next steps with no pressure or obligation.
Frequently Asked Questions
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While the NHS screening programme is generally reliable, errors can and do occur. Occasionally, abnormal cells are missed or misclassified, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.
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Yes, if it can be shown that the error was negligent and caused avoidable harm. Your solicitor will work with independent experts to review your records and assess whether the test was handled correctly.
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No. Your ongoing treatment and support will continue as usual. Bringing a claim simply allows you to seek accountability and compensation where negligence has occurred.
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The amount depends on how the misread test affected your health, treatment, and personal circumstances. Compensation can cover pain, suffering, loss of amenity, lost income, and future medical costs.
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Your medical records, test results, and correspondence form the foundation of your case. Your solicitor will help gather and analyse this evidence with input from medical experts.
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You usually have three years from the date you became aware of negligence. In some cases, this awareness happens much later, so it’s worth seeking advice even if time has passed.
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Yes. We work with clients across Devon, Cornwall, and throughout the UK, offering the same personal and professional service wherever you’re based.
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Cases are handled on a No Win No Fee basis, meaning you only pay if your case succeeds. Your solicitor will explain all costs clearly before you begin.
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Yes. Private clinics and hospitals must meet the same professional standards as NHS providers. You can bring a claim against a private organisation if they failed in their duty of care.
