Fall From Bed Following Routine Elective Surgery

On 27 February 2013 TSP Clinical Negligence solicitor, Naomi Eady, represented the family of Mr Herbert Ward at the Inquest into his death following an operation in March 2013 at Basildon Hospital (Basildon & Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust). The Inquest took place at the Coroner’s Court in Chelmsford and was presided over by HM Coroner for Essex and Thurrock, Mrs Caroline Beasley-Murray.

Mr Ward, 70, who had a history of coronary heart disease, was advised by his cardiac consultant that he would be suitable for a stent procedure (which opens blocked arteries) and therefore was admitted to Basildon Hospital at the end of February 2012 for this elective surgery.

As well as coronary heart disease, Mr Ward also suffered from myotonic dystrophy, which meant that he was almost blind (he had no vision in his right eye and only 10% in his left). He was particularly frail, could walk only a short distance with a Zimmer frame and needed help with most daily living activities; he also had problems with urinary urgency and frequency and would wake numerous times throughout the night to visit the lavatory. Whilst at home, Mr Ward’s wife, his primary carer, would guide him to the bathroom on his Zimmer frame.

The operation which Mr Ward had on 24 February 2012 would usually have been undertaken as a day case, but because Mr Ward’s blood had been thinned for the procedure and because of his other underlying conditions his consultant decided to keep him in overnight and he was admitted to a high dependency ward. The operation itself was a partial success (surgeons were able to unblock two of his three blocked arteries), and there was a visible improvement in Mr Ward’s health immediately afterwards, and arrangements were made for a further procedure to be carried out to unblock the third artery.

Unfortunately, whilst Mr Ward was on the ward that night he managed to get out of his bed and fall, sustaining a serious head injury. He was taken to Queen’s Hospital neurosurgery unit, but unfortunately, because the head injury was so serious, there was no surgery which could help him. Mr Ward continued to deteriorate neurologically and the neurologist’s opinion was that there was little chance of Mr Ward recovering. Intensive care support was withdrawn and Mr Ward deteriorated further and he died on 2 March 2012.

Mr Ward’s family were concerned that a failure to care for him adequately on the high dependency ward at Basildon Hospital led to him being able to leave his bed and subsequently sustain a fatal head injury.  Mr Ward’s wife said, “We explained before we left for the night that my husband was blind, very unsteady on his feet and would need the toilet many times throughout the night. He should not have been able to get out of his bed without someone being there to help him.”

Naomi Eady, Clinical Negligence Solicitor at Thompson Smith and Puxon said, “We firmly believe that there were a number of viable options available to nursing staff which should have been considered and used to prevent Mr Ward from leaving his bed during the night and that, if these had been put in place, Mr Ward was unlikely to have suffered his fatal fall.”

The Coroner recorded a verdict of accidental death.