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Luke Jenkins died of brain damage after Bristol Children's Hospital op | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A boy who died after heart surgery in Bristol suffered brain damage caused by cardiac arrest, an inquest has heard. | |
Luke Jenkins, seven, from Cardiff, was expected to make a full recovery after the operation at Bristol Children's Hospital in March 2012. | |
Avon coroner Maria Voisin recorded a narrative verdict saying she had heard "no evidence of gross failure" in the care he received in hospital. | |
Luke's mother said she still believed his death had been preventable. | |
Faye Valentine, 28, said she could not rule out legal action and that the family still had many concerns. | |
'Panic and disorganisation' | 'Panic and disorganisation' |
The coroner said Luke, who was born with a congenital heart defect, died as a result of brain damage caused by a heart attack. | |
This followed a catastrophic bleed in his chest a week after heart surgery on 30 March 2012. | |
Ms Voisin said she was happy with the steps the hospital had taken following the incident and she had no further recommendations to make. | |
A health trust report released in September revealed a series of errors that contributed to Luke's death, including staff shortages and staff not knowing where to find resuscitation equipment after he suffered cardiac arrest. | |
Luke's father, Stephen Jenkins, had described a situation of "panic and disorganisation" among hospital staff on Ward 32 when his son suffered a cardiac arrest. | Luke's father, Stephen Jenkins, had described a situation of "panic and disorganisation" among hospital staff on Ward 32 when his son suffered a cardiac arrest. |
He told the inquest in a written statement that while his son was on that ward, he and his partner had concerns that Luke was not receiving the appropriate level of care. | He told the inquest in a written statement that while his son was on that ward, he and his partner had concerns that Luke was not receiving the appropriate level of care. |
He said they requested that he be returned to the paediatric intensive care unit but "our request was denied and Luke remained on Ward 32". | |
Chest pains | |
The boy's parents also had concerns that the ward "seemed short-staffed" and that "throughout those first two days, there were sporadic observation checks". | The boy's parents also had concerns that the ward "seemed short-staffed" and that "throughout those first two days, there were sporadic observation checks". |
Mr Jenkins said his son complained of pain in his abdomen on 2 April and the next day seemed very "withdrawn and quiet". | Mr Jenkins said his son complained of pain in his abdomen on 2 April and the next day seemed very "withdrawn and quiet". |
The court heard that on 6 April Luke began complaining of severe chest pains. | The court heard that on 6 April Luke began complaining of severe chest pains. |
Before the cause could be investigated, he suffered a cardiac arrest. | Before the cause could be investigated, he suffered a cardiac arrest. |
On 9 April his parents took the decision to switch off their son's life support machine. | |
A report by an investigative team at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust said "the workload and patient dependency is recognised as being significant" in Luke's death. | A report by an investigative team at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust said "the workload and patient dependency is recognised as being significant" in Luke's death. |
However, the coroner heard evidence of changes made by the trust since Luke's death. | |
Miss Valentine said she regarded the changes as an admission by the trust that mistakes had been made over his care. | |
"We still have a lot of concerns and some more from hearing the evidence," she said. | |
"We understand the coroner is not there to establish blame. | |
"Maybe that's something for later on. But they [the trust] played a big part in what happened to Luke and again that's probably part of our questions that weren't answered." |