Mum died after doctors missed THREE opportunities to spot the treatable bowel condition that caused her death inquest hears
Probe by Tameside General Hospital Trust described death of Susan Lindley, 54, as 'entirely avoidable'
A MUM died after doctors failed to recognise her bowel condition three times, an inquest has heard.
Susan Lindley, 54, a supermarket worker from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, was repeatedly admitted to hospital with severe stomach pain.
Yet an investigation by Tameside General Hospital Trust found staff did not diagnose her Crohn’s Disease or treat a blockage in her bowel describing her death was as “entirely avoidable”.
At her inquest in Manchester this week, coroner Nigel Meadows said he would reach his own conclusion.
The hearing at Manchester Town Hall was told Susan was admitted to Tameside General three times suffering with severe stomach pain and vomiting.
Her first admission came in June 2014. She returned as an emergency patient again on August 3 and was discharged three days later only to go back again on August 18, when a CT scan revealed no change in her condition.
Although Susan was examined by senior medics, and CT scans were carried out, a laparotomy - where an incision is made to look at the bowel - was never performed.
She was later referred to Wythenshawe with ischaemia - a heart complication - where the blockage was found but she sadly died on August 21.
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Giving evidence, Toni Gamble, Susan’s daughter, said: “It just seemed like they didn’t know what to do with her.”
Abduljalil Benhamida, a consultant surgeon and one of the medics to treat Susan, told the inquest the CT scan had not given cause for surgery and there had appeared “no obvious need” to take Susan to theatre.
However, Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust commissioned an external report which ruled the death was avoidable.
It described a number of “missed opportunities” to diagnose Susan and take her for surgery.
It added: “Had she been taken into theatre up to August 18 it is likely she would have survived.”
The report questioned senior clinicians’ decision to treat her “conservatively”, ruled medics’ minds were closed to the likely cause of her presentation - and said her treatment was a “source of great regret”.
However, Mr Benhamida told the hearing he did not accept the view of the external expert.
Coroner Meadows adjourned the inquest to allow the medics to consider whether they wanted further representation.
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