Changes at Blackpool Victoria Hospital after death of man, 84, following 26-hour A&E wait
Coroner encouraged by alterations made as he passes conclusion at inquest.
Changes to procedures at Blackpool Victoria Hospital have been introduced following the death of an 84-year-old man who was waiting for suitable treatment in the emergency department for more than 24 hours.
Frank Williams, from Poulton, who had a lengthy history of gallstone problems and was referred to the emergency department at the Vic by his GP practice after complaining of abdominal pains.
His son Michael, who accompanied him to hospital, told an inquest at Blackpool Town Hall that his dad had had such pains “every few months” previously but they had cleared up each time.
On this occasion, however, after lasting three or four days, the GP suggested he be checked at the hospital.
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He arrived at lunchtime on December 2 and it was 26 hours later before he was referred to the intensive therapy unit, where he died at 6.20pm on December 3.
After his arrival at A&E, mid-afternoon, before he was prescribed intravenous anti-biotics and some two hours later before they began to be administered.
He was checked by a senior house officer shortly after 11.30 that evening and he spent the night in the emergency department.
The following morning, on examination of Mr Williams, a consultant said he required an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to drain his bile duct.
But by then his condition had deteriorated and he was not fit enough for the procedure.
Mr Williams was referred to the ITU at 2.20pm, some four hours before he died.
Pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd said Mr Williams’ cause of death was capillary sepsis due to capillary obstruction.
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There was a blockage to his bile duct and as well as multiple gallstones in his gall bladder, Dr Shepherd found substantial infection, causing sepsis.
Blackpool and Fylde chief coroner Alan Wilson concluded Mr Williams died of natural causes.
But he added that, had Mr Williams been put on anti-biotics earlier in the A&E department and the ERCP carried out, on the balance of probabilities, he would not have died when he did.
The coroner also said he was encouraged by changes introduced earlier this year at the Vic to try and ensure earlier treatment plans in A&E by senior clinicians in a bid to avoid a repeat of Mr Williams’ situation.