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Six-Week Scan Wait Leads to Death
11 Jun
Summary
- Elderly woman died from hospital-acquired infection after waiting six weeks for a scan.
- Her family alleges neglect and claims she would be alive if not hospitalized.
- The hospital trust is reviewing the case through its formal complaints process.
Sylvia Rowe, an 87-year-old woman, died in March after a prolonged hospital stay at Darent Valley Hospital. Her family states she was admitted on February 7 with sudden leg and groin pain and required an MRI scan. However, she allegedly waited five and a half weeks for the scan, not being deemed a priority.
During her extended stay, Mrs. Rowe developed hospital-acquired pneumonia and suffered an infective exacerbation of COPD. Her family claims she experienced neglect, including delayed medication and insufficient physiotherapy. They believe these factors contributed significantly to her deteriorating health and eventual death.
The family has lodged a formal complaint with the hospital, seeking answers and an apology for what they describe as negligent care. A spokeswoman for the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust confirmed that the case is under review through the formal complaints process.
