Medical Neglect Contributed To Mother's Death, Inquest Finds

A family opportunity their mother was fto down successful nan worst imaginable measurement erstwhile she died aft being sent location from infirmary pinch a humor clot connected her lungs.

Sue Howell, from Bilston, died from a pulmonary embolism, a clot successful nan humor alloy connecting nan bosom pinch nan lungs.

An inquest heard trial results were disposable which would person alerted aesculapian staff, but they were not acted upon.

The Black Country adjunct coroner Helena Gallagher gave a communicative conclusion, noting nan 73-year-old's decease was contributed to by neglect successful nan aesculapian curen she received astatine New Cross Hospital successful Wolverhampton.

In evidence, a expert told nan inquest she did not cognize nan D-Dimer trial had been requested and it was not successful nan patient's notes, contempt nan consequence being disposable respective hours earlier nan mother was sent home.

In a statement, nan infirmary apologised for "not providing nan modular of attraction we strive for" and said an investigation since nan patient's decease had led to "several actions".

Howell's girl Vic Smith said she felt "absolutely furious", adding: "The results were location connected a machine system, they were there."

Her different daughter, Liz Howell said: "We're not professionals, medics - we entrusted mum to them and they conscionable fto america down, massively.

"They'll ne'er understand what they've done to us. Never and it's thing that we relive daily. There's not a time goes by erstwhile immoderate facet of that play doesn't travel to my mind."

The mother-of-four was taken to infirmary connected 11 April 2025 aft falling astatine location and breaking her arms.

She was discharged that night, but taken to infirmary again nan adjacent greeting aft collapsing astatine home.

A Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust spokesperson said: "We would for illustration to definitive our heartfelt condolences to Mrs Howell's family for their nonaccomplishment and apologies for not providing nan modular of attraction we strive for.

"Following Mrs Howell's death, a thorough investigation was carried out.

"We person taken respective actions since this incident took spot and proceed to activity pinch our teams to learn, amended our services and support nan needs of our patients and their families."

Mrs Howell had 2 sons and 2 daughters, and 11 grandchildren.

Vic Smith described her mum arsenic "an angel" and was nan "beating heart" of their family.