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Pregnant Mom Dies After Hours Unseen in A&E
24 Jan
Summary
- Pregnant woman died from septic shock after a lengthy wait.
- Hospital failed to prioritize pregnant patients in A&E.
- Coroner cited gross failure of care and neglect in her death.
A 33-year-old pregnant woman tragically died from septic shock at Royal Stoke University Hospital on October 1, 2024, after experiencing severe bleeding and pain. Dhananji Dona was admitted at 11:30 am but faced a prolonged wait in the A&E department. Her husband reported she was not physically examined despite emphasizing her critical condition.
An investigation uncovered 11 contributing factors to her death, including a wait of over two hours for triage, exceeding the 15-minute recommendation. Pregnant women were not prioritized, and sepsis assessment tools were improperly used. The report noted that clinical staff's perception of her appearance may have led to her symptoms being underestimated.
The coroner concluded that Dhananji's death resulted from natural causes contributed to by neglect, calling it a "gross failure of care." It was determined that timely intervention, particularly for sepsis, would likely have saved her life. A report has been issued urging the hospital to implement improved observation systems for pregnant patients.
