Widow's fears after surgery death
The widow of a man who died after surgery today told of her shock after concerns were raised by a coroner about his treatment at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital.
The widow of a man who died after surgery today told of her shock after concerns were raised by a coroner about his treatment at scandal-hit Stafford Hospital.
The family of David Pearse are now seeking legal advice after North Stafffordshire coroner Ian Smith asked the General Medical Council to look into the treatment of the 69-year-old.
Mr Pearse was treated for bowel cancer at the hospital in 2008. Among the issues said to have been of concern included a lack of antibiotics following surgery and a failure to fit a feeding tube.
Mr Pearse, formerly of Stafford, was diagnosed with bowel cancer at Stafford Hospital in 2008 and surgeon Rod Hutchinson called for surgery after Mr Pearse's tumour had failed to shrink. But Mr Hutchinson was criticised at the inquest for failing to order a CT scan before the operation which led to Mr Pearse's bladder being critically damaged.
The inquest was told Mr Pearse was not given food before or after surgery and when he was later transferred to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire in January, 2009, doctors said he was too malnourished to undergo surgery. Mr Pearse died on January 15, 2009, and urology consultant Samson Liu told the inquest a CT scan may have revealed potential problems.
Mr Smith issued a narrative verdict that the patient had died as a result of surgery at Stafford Hospital. The cause of death was systemic sepsis and damage to the bladder.
Mr Smith said: "I am concerned there was no CT scan before the surgery and that surgery of a very difficult nature didn't involve another specialist."
Widow Lorraine Pearse, a retired ambulance service worker of west Cannock, said: "We are appalled at what we have heard and are now looking for a solicitor to look at this case. We feel a mistake was made with damage being done to his bladder. I was absolutely shocked at what was said in the inquest."
Manjit Obhrai, Medical Director at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, said: "I would like to offer our sincere condolences. Mr Pearse's death was reported as a Serious
Untoward Incident and we instigated a comprehensive investigation to review his care and treatment. We would like to reassure our patients that we have taken action to ensure our services are safe. We routinely review deaths from all causes to ensure that our patients have received appropriate care and treatment."
