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Coroner Warns NHS After Patient Death Due to Delay
21 Oct
Summary
- Patient died before surgery due to critical time-sensitive emergency.
- Coroner cited 'lack of agreement between local hospitals' causing delays.
- Warning issued to prevent future deaths from treatment delays.
A coroner has issued a stark warning to NHS organizations, seeking to prevent future deaths after a critical delay in treating a patient with a time-critical surgical emergency. Malcolm Budd, 65, died at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester in February before surgeons could operate on a tear in his aorta, an aortic dissection.
Budd had been transferred from the Royal Derby Hospital after it was determined the necessary procedure could not be performed locally. Coroner Dianne Hocking highlighted that a "lack of agreement between local hospitals" led to "delays" in transferring patients with acute aortic dissection. The mortality risk for this condition increases significantly with each hour of delay.
Despite arriving at Royal Derby Hospital on February 24th and receiving a confirmed diagnosis swiftly, Mr. Budd faced delays in transfer to Glenfield Hospital. Tragically, he suffered a cardiac arrest while awaiting surgery and passed away shortly after arrival in Leicester. The coroner concluded his death was due to natural causes but urged hospital trusts to establish a clear plan for managing such urgent referrals.
