GP told my girl she didn’t need to go to hospital .. 24 hours later she was dead
Mum speaks out over treatment
A WOMAN suffering from excruciating headaches died just 24 hours after a doctor told her she didn’t need to go to hospital.
Her heartbroken family were still coming to terms with Laura Cartner, 38, losing her unborn twins a year previously when vasculitis almost claimed her life.
Laura, from Kilmarnock, was still suffering the effects of the illness – a dangerous inflammation of the blood vessels – when she went to her GP about headaches and an inability to grip.
She was sent home and not referred to hospital – but was dead within 24 hours after a massive stroke. Her mum Sadie, 58, said: “This is not about blaming anyone. I just want to know why a doctor, knowing her medical history, didn’t send her straight to hospital.”
Sadie, from Mauchline, Ayrshire, said that in October 2016, when Laura was about 22 weeks pregnant with her twin girls, she was hit by vasculitis.
After being admitted to hospital, she was put into an induced coma and later lost the babies.
Laura survived but was left with weakness in her lungs and she was dependent on oxygen. She also had kidney problems.
Last December, her blood pressure became erratic and she started to have bad headaches.
Sadie said: “Three weeks before her passing, she was having excruciatiung headaches and spent most days in bed. I was nagging her to go to the hospital but she said they wouldn’t do anything for a headache.”
She made an appointment with her GP. Sadie added: “She saw the doctor and told him about the headaches and the fact she kept dropping things.
“I am no medical expert but even I know that should have been checked at the hospital.
“I am not saying it would have definitely have made a difference but we will never know.”
The next morning, Laura had trouble breathing and an ambulance was called. Paramedics were unable to save her.
No one from the practice was willing to speak about the case.
Liz Moore, director for Acute Services at Ayrshire and Arran health board, said: “We would encourage the patient’s family to contact us directly with any concerns about their care.”