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Hospital's failure to give woman scan at weekend blamed for her death Hospital's failure to give woman scan at weekend blamed for her death
(about 11 hours later)
A coroner has criticised a hospital over its failure to send a woman for a potentially life-saving CT scan under “highly unsatisfactory” weekend arrangements.A coroner has criticised a hospital over its failure to send a woman for a potentially life-saving CT scan under “highly unsatisfactory” weekend arrangements.
North-west Kent senior coroner Roger Hatch said Sandra Wood, 69, died of natural causes “as a consequence of the failure by Tunbridge Wells hospital to correctly diagnose and treat her”.North-west Kent senior coroner Roger Hatch said Sandra Wood, 69, died of natural causes “as a consequence of the failure by Tunbridge Wells hospital to correctly diagnose and treat her”.
He said Wood should have had a CT scan “as a matter of urgency” after her GP referred her to the hospital with possible bowel obstruction late on the afternoon of Friday 17 April.He said Wood should have had a CT scan “as a matter of urgency” after her GP referred her to the hospital with possible bowel obstruction late on the afternoon of Friday 17 April.
But Wood and her partner were told that “hospital policy” meant she was unlikely to receive the scan at the weekend, and that it could only be arranged for an emergency.But Wood and her partner were told that “hospital policy” meant she was unlikely to receive the scan at the weekend, and that it could only be arranged for an emergency.
Instead, doctors discharged her late that Friday night with a prescription after diagnosing her with a urinary tract infection and constipation.Instead, doctors discharged her late that Friday night with a prescription after diagnosing her with a urinary tract infection and constipation.
Wood, a retired shop assistant and grandmother from Burham, near Rochester, was told she could return to hospital after the weekend for a scan.Wood, a retired shop assistant and grandmother from Burham, near Rochester, was told she could return to hospital after the weekend for a scan.
But Hatch said delaying the scan until the Monday proved “critical”. She collapsed at home and died at Maidstone hospital on Saturday 18 April.But Hatch said delaying the scan until the Monday proved “critical”. She collapsed at home and died at Maidstone hospital on Saturday 18 April.
In his conclusion, Hatch criticised the number of steps needed to arrange a CT scan at weekends at Tunbridge Wells hospital, run by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust.In his conclusion, Hatch criticised the number of steps needed to arrange a CT scan at weekends at Tunbridge Wells hospital, run by Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust.
Sitting at Gravesend Old Town Hall following a day-long inquest last month, the coroner said he now planned to issue a regulation 28 report in an attempt to prevent another patient dying in similar circumstances.Sitting at Gravesend Old Town Hall following a day-long inquest last month, the coroner said he now planned to issue a regulation 28 report in an attempt to prevent another patient dying in similar circumstances.
Hatch said: “Arrangements should have been put in hand for the CT scan to have been carried out on April 17/18 2015 due to the emergency situation that had occurred. Hatch said: “Arrangements should have been put in hand for the CT scan to have been carried out on 17 or 18 April 2015 due to the emergency situation that had occurred.
“It is highly unsatisfactory that facilities for a CT scan to be carried out at the weekend at Tunbridge Wells hospital are not routinely available without having to go through a number of steps for this to be arranged.“It is highly unsatisfactory that facilities for a CT scan to be carried out at the weekend at Tunbridge Wells hospital are not routinely available without having to go through a number of steps for this to be arranged.
“In this case, the delay until Monday was critical – as the outcome has sadly demonstrated.”“In this case, the delay until Monday was critical – as the outcome has sadly demonstrated.”
Wood should not have been discharged with a constipation and urinary tract infection diagnosis, he added.Wood should not have been discharged with a constipation and urinary tract infection diagnosis, he added.
Wood’s family has now launched civil proceedings against the hospital. Relatives said the NHS trust should “do everything in its power” to prevent a repeat. Her family has now launched civil proceedings against the hospital. Relatives said the NHS trust should “do everything in its power” to prevent a repeat.
Wood’s daughter, midwife Amanda Sparkes, said: “The coroner has now confirmed what we always suspected: the hospital’s policy not to carry out a scan caused this tragedy.Wood’s daughter, midwife Amanda Sparkes, said: “The coroner has now confirmed what we always suspected: the hospital’s policy not to carry out a scan caused this tragedy.
“It is devastating to think that had my mum been given the treatment she deserved she would have survived. It adds to our grief that had we not fought for answers and an inquest, we suspect this would have been put down as just another unfortunate death and there has been no pressure to find out what went wrong.”“It is devastating to think that had my mum been given the treatment she deserved she would have survived. It adds to our grief that had we not fought for answers and an inquest, we suspect this would have been put down as just another unfortunate death and there has been no pressure to find out what went wrong.”
Tim Deeming, a clinical negligence lawyer for Slater and Gordon, which represents the family, said: “This tragedy must be a catalyst for improvements so that processes are put in place, both at the trust and across the NHS, to prevent a similar incident happening to another family.”Tim Deeming, a clinical negligence lawyer for Slater and Gordon, which represents the family, said: “This tragedy must be a catalyst for improvements so that processes are put in place, both at the trust and across the NHS, to prevent a similar incident happening to another family.”