A CONSULTANT and a smear test expert who failed to spot that an Alderley Edge mum was dying from cancer are to be investigated by health chiefs.

Former air stewardess Janet Merrick thought she was fit and well when she was given the all-clear by consultant gynaecologist John Wynn, who treated her at his private clinic.

But she had a cancerous tumour so advanced that it was inoperable and had spread through her body.

If it had been correctly detected and treated she could have been cured.

Earlier this year Janet's husband Tony, and nine-year-old son, Sam, were awarded £500,000 at the High Court in Manchester after suing Mr Wynn and the retired cytopathologist he used to screen tests Dr Arthur Woodcock, for medical negligence.

The two did not admit liability and the case was settled out of court.

Now he has instructed his solicitors, Pannone and Partners to send his wife's case file straight to the General Medical Council after they asked if he wanted them to investigate.

Mr Merrick said: "To me the court case was not the end. The financial damages we received are no reflection of the damage this has caused to our family alone.

"I really don't want this to happen to anybody else."

British Airways stewardess Janet had been a private patient of Mr Wynn's for years. In 1990 she was found to have late-stage pre-cancerous cells of the cervix.

Mr Wynn performed laser treatment and a biopsy and assured Janet he would watch her progress to ensure the abnormality did not recur.

She went to Mr Wynn's private rooms in Altrincham every year for smear tests and consultations and was told each time she was clear.

But unknown to her Mr Wynn was no longer sending her tests to the Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle for screening as he had done with the previous smears.

Instead, they were examined by retired cytopathologist Dr Arthur Woodcock in a room at his home.

Although he was reporting the smears as negative some should have been referred back for another test as not enough sample cells had been collected to give a true result.

Janet continued to go for yearly check-ups and was told she was clear, but in 1993 she started suffering the symptoms of cervical cancer. Despite extensive treatment, she died in 1997 - aged 45.

As well as working from private rooms in Altrincham, Wilmslow and the Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle Mr Wynn was employed by the NHS at Wythenshawe Hospital. He was not available for comment.

Dr Woodcock said he had not been informed of the GMC investigation.

Mr Merrick has given up his job in interior design to look after son Sam, who has Downe Syndrome. He set up a trust fund from the compensation award to provide for his son's future.