Trust apology to family of sepsis-death widower

HOSPITAL chiefs have apologised to the family of a father who died after being admitted with pain in his hip, saying there were “shortcomings in the care provided”.

The coroner at the inquest into John Coller’s death said had a “c-reactive protein test” been carried out soon after he was admitted, it was likely his case would have been “elevated”.

This, said the coroner, “would have led to earlier surgical intervention” and a test which would have led to him being given antibiotics sooner.

The inquest was told had this happened, he would likely “not have developed sepsis and he would have not died when he did”.

Carpenter Mr Coller had been admitted to Burton’s Queen’s Hospital on January 11, 2017, with pain in his left hip after having had a replacement years earlier.

However, a “c-reactive protein” (CRP) test, which checks for infections, was not carried out until days later, meaning the start of his treatment was delayed, his inquest at Derby Coroner’s Court heard.

The widower, 67, who lived alone in Badgery Close, Uttoxeter, was later transferred to the intensive care unit at the Royal Derby Hospital, where he received further treatment, but it was found that a robust orthopaedic plan was not in place.

This was before the merger between Queen’s Hospital and the Royal Derby Hospital.

A statement read out at the inquest from the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust apologised to the family for Mr Coller’s treatment, saying there were “shortcomings in the care provided”.

It said: “We have been liaising with John’s family and apologise for the care he received which fell below what the trust expects.”

It stated that had the CRP test had been undertaken on admission, the result would have been that he would have been “elevated” and he would not have “developed the level of sepsis that he did”. The trust also accepted that a more robust orthopaedic plan was needed for Mr Coller.

The hospital added that extensive work had been done since Mr Coller’s death, including the merger between the two hospitals and improvements in communication.

Assistant coroner Tanyka Rawden recorded a narrative verdict, saying: “John Frederick Coller was admitted to the Queen’s Hospital in Burton on January 11, 2017, with hip pain on a background of bilateral hip replacements several years before his admission.

“A c-reactive protein (CRP) test was not carried out on, or immediately after, admission to identify any infection.

“On January 14, 2017, he underwent a needle aspiration of the hip joint and a had Synovisure test which was positive for infection.

“Antibiotics were not commenced until January 16, 2017.

“He developed an acute kidney injury and underwent emergency surgery on January 16, 2017, to drain the fluid collection.

“There was no robust orthopaedic plan in place following this surgery.

“He was transferred to the Royal Derby Hospital on February 26, 2017. He underwent surgery on February 27, 2017, to remove the hip replacement and debride (remove) the surrounding tissues.

“He underwent further surgery on March 20, 2017, to rebride the hip wound and remove Vancomycin impregnated beads.

“He died in the Royal Derby Hospital on March 30, 2017, due to multi-organ failure caused by an infected hip prosthesis with an allergic reaction.

“Had a c-reactive protein (CRP) test been carried out on, or immediately after admission, it is likely the result would have been elevated.

“This would have led to earlier surgical intervention and a Synovisure test which would have led to the provision of antibiotics sooner than January 16, 2017.

“Had these events occurred earlier than they did, and had a robust orthopaedic plan been put in place following the surgery on January 16, 2017, it is likely he would not have developed sepsis and he would have not died when he did.”

Mr Coller’s son, Matthew, told the inquest: “I felt like he wasn’t taken seriously when he went in. I don’t think that Burton really looked after my dad.

“I wish he had gone to Derby sooner as he would have had a fighting chance. I wish he hadn’t died the way he has.

“He was a strong man; an independent man.”

Mrs Rawden said: “I’m so sorry that this has happened to your dad and sorry it has taken so long to get here today.

“It’s awful for you as a family to have gone through all of this.”