Coroner to probe death of man, 67, after transfer to Blackpool Victoria Hospital for heart surgery

A 67-year-old man died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital within a day of being transferred for specialist treatment there from the hospital closest to his home in Cumbria.

Roland Michaud, from Ulverston, had a previous history of heart problems and had attended Furness General Hospital on December 10 last year but was discharged with a view to a specialist cardiology appointment being arranged.

Just over two weeks later, at Christmas, he was readmitted to the Furness Hospital via the emergency department and a discussion with doctors there several days later led to him being transferred to the cardiology unit at Blackpool to undergo a procedure.

But he died there on December 30, with the cause of death ruled by a pathologist to be ischaemic heart disease.

Mr Michaud’s widow told an pre-inquest review at Blackpool Town Hall that she recalled there being a discussion at Furness on Christmas Day, soon after her husband’s return there, about a referral to Blackpool and wondered why it wasn’t actioned at that stage.

She told Blackpool and Fylde senior coroner Alan Wilson that she felt an earlier transfer to the specialist cardiology unit at Blackpool might have made a difference to the outcome.

Lyn Ajanaku, representing the Blackpool Hospitals Foundation Trust, confirmed a review of the case in conjunction with Furness General Hospital was being prepared for the coroner and Mr Wilson asked that it include input from the doctor who Mrs Michaud recalled being involved in the discussion along with whoever from the Vic was also involved.

“The key questions are ‘could he have gone to Blackpool earlier and would it have made a difference to the outcome?’,” said the coroner.

Mr Wilson set a date for the inquest of July 7.