‘FAILINGS’ OVER DEATH
CORONER SAYS LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF MAJOR POLICY IS ‘SIGNIFICANT ISSUE’
‘FAILINGS and omissions’ in the care of a former headteacher who became injured after having a catheter fitted did contribute to his death, a coroner has concluded. Brian Comerford, 79, died in March 2014, after spending more than two months in Wythenshawe Hospital.
‘FAILINGS and omissions’ in the care of a former headteacher who became injured after having a catheter fitted did contribute to his death, a coroner has concluded.
Brian Comerford, 79, died in March 2014, after spending more than two months in Wythenshawe Hospital.
Doctors decided to fit him with a catheter to monitor his fluids when he was first admitted to hospital in January.
A four-day inquest heard how medics breached hospital policy with their repeated attempts to fit the catheter, resulting in injuries to Mr Comerford’s urethra and bladder. Senior coroner Nigel Meadows said there were significant failings in the management of the father-oftwo’s care.
Mr Meadows said: “In this day and age to have three doctors not knowing a major policy seems to be a significant issue.”
But overall Mr Comerford’s death was caused by a combination of factors and not as a result of neglect, the court heard.
Mr Meadows added: “The trust seem to have taken to steps to ensure this particular policy is known and understood.”
Mr Comerford, from Bramhall in Stockport, died on March 21, 2014, after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Mr Meadows, recording a narrative verdict, said: “The deceased died as a consequence of a combination of background chronic conditions, frailty and the effects of sepsis in association with the complications arisen from attempted catheterisation, causing bladder perforation, resulting in laparotomy.
“The deceased’s death was contributed to by failings and omissions in care arising out of his management on the MAU and ward F14 on January 28 and 29 in 2014.”
The coroner recognised there was a lack of communication between hospital staff regarding Mr Comerford’s catheter and subsequent care.
Stephen Jones, partner at Leigh Day, representing Mr Comerford’s family, said the inquest had highlighted ‘significant failings’ in his care.
Mr Jones said after the hearing: “Mrs Comerford only found out about those when she first read the Serious Untoward Incident report.
“She was distraught on reading what had happened to her husband.
“Moving forward it is reassuring that the trust have taken extensive steps to ensure such breaches of policy do not happen again. The overriding feeling is that this was a death that should have been avoided.”