Anguish of family left waiting for inquest
COLLETTE McCartney, 35, died in May 2016 after being admitted to the Royal Oldham with a swollen elbow and knee.
Her family have still not got to the bottom of what happened, due to the current investigation into Dr Ahmed, which has seen her inquest repeatedly delayed.
Collette – described as a ‘larger than life girl who was loved by thousands’ – had had part of her stomach removed during a gruelling run of cancer treatment in 2015, but by March 2016 had been given the all-clear by Salford Royal Hospital. Two months later she was admitted to the Royal Oldham with severe swelling and suspected sepsis.
A couple of days after that she died, suddenly and unexpectedly.
Her family say doctors told them Collette had not been resuscitated because her death was thought to be due to cancer but a post-mortem carried out by Dr Ahmed found no trace of the disease and concluded it was due to pneumonia and sepsis.
Her inquest was due to be held nearly a year ago.
However, the investigation into Dr Ahmed’s practice has now left them in limbo and without the resources to hire a lawyer.
“It’s absolutely appalling,” said Gary Cleaver, partner of Collette’s sister Yvette. “We just don’t know what she died of. Two years later we are still in absolute anguish.”