Hospital ‘missed chances’ to save fitness fanatic in heart tragedy
THE life of a much-loved fitness fanatic could have been saved if a fatal heart defect had been picked up when he was admitted to hospital after a stabbing, a coroner has ruled.
The ‘system had failed’ Dean Gillespie, 24, from Stockport, after high blood pressure readings were not investigated and x-rays showing his enlarged heart were not followed up, an inquest heard.
Bosses at Stepping Hill Hospital have apologised for ‘inadequate’ care.
Dean died after collapsing suddenly at his home in Cheadle Heath in September 2014 after complaining of a ‘banging’ headache.
A post-mortem examination found he died as a result of bleeding into the sacs of his heart due to a ‘congenital abnormality’ of his aorta led to it rupturing.
He had previously been fit and healthy, going to the gym six times a week and playing football at weekends, his father Mark Gillespie told the inquest.
Dean, a scaffolder, was admitted to hospital on April 1, 2012, after suffering three stab wounds in an ‘altercation.’
He spent five days undergoing surgery to repair holes in his bowel caused by the most serious wound. He also had two further, shorter stays, one later that month and one in May 2012 as a result of complications. The inquest heard he was recorded as having high blood pressure during those admissions, with one expert describing it as ‘pathologically’ high.
That was interpreted as likely being due to the pain he was in and was not investigated.
Two chest x-rays, carried out on April 1 and April 4, 2012, also showed he had an enlarged heart, the radiologist who examined them later found.
But for ‘reasons that are not clear’ these findings were not shared with the consultant surgeon in charge of his care who only saw them this year, the inquest was told.
The surgeon, Dr Edwin Clarke, told the hearing if he had seen them he would have discussed them with the specialist and would likely have referred Dean to a cardiologist for further investigation.
Dean collapsed shortly after returning from work in September 2014, having taken paracetamol and gone to bed because of his headache.
South Manchester Coroner,
Chris Morris, recorded a narrative conclusion that Dean died ‘as a consequence of a congenital heart abnormality which was not diagnosed during his lifetime’ following the inquest at South Manchester Coroner’s court in Stockport. He said that the ‘system in operation at the time failed Dean.’
“Had the consultant surgeon been made aware of the radiologist’s reports, a discussion would have taken place which would likely have led to a referral to a cardiologist,” the coroner said. “This, in turn, is likely to have led to the diagnosis of Mr Gillespie’s coarctation of the aorta which probably would have saved his life.”
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust has previously apologised to the family and reached a financial settlement.
In a statement released after the hearing, the trust said: “We are deeply sorry that the standard of care provided to Dean Gillespie was inadequate, and we would like to take this opportunity to repeat our sincere apologies, sympathy and condolences to his family and loved ones in this case.”
Mr Gillespie and Dean’s mother Sue, told the M.E.N.: “We do feel like we have been failed by the system. But (the coroner’s findings) don’t help really. It is us who have to pick up the pieces now.
“’They could have done this and could have done that’ are words you just don’t want to hear really. It’s almost rubbing salt in the wounds.”