Serious investigation launched after 25-year-old Fleetwood woman dies after months in hospital

Coral O’Donnell, 25, of Mount Road, died at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester on May 17 2019 after being transferred there from Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

A postmortem examination was carried out and found that she died of pneumonia caused by influenza.

Her death sparked a serious incident review at Blackpool Vic.

At a hearing at Blackpool town hall on Monday, coroner Alan Wilson said: “This is a matter that in my opinion has taken too long. We have all been hampered significantly by the coronavirus, but we are now in July 2020, and this was a matter reported in May 2019. This matter needs to be proceeded with, not least in the interest of Coral’s family.”

Arranging a full inquest for the week beginning November 30, he said the investigation would look at ‘the appropriateness of the care delivered in Blackpool, and whether the care, if it had been delivered differently, things would have turned out differently for Coral.’

Doctors from Blackpool Vic and Fleetwood Surgery, an independent expert and members of Ms O'Donnell's family will be called to give evidence.