Father died after ‘complex problems’

A FATHER-OF-TWO died in hospital after medics were unable to diagnose his complex health problems over the previous year, an inquest heard.

The family of Tim Hancock, 48, have said they hope lessons have been learned following his death after a brain haemorrhage at Leeds General Infirmary in November 2016.

Wakefield Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Hancock had undergone multiple tests as doctors struggled to get to the bottom of symptoms including fatigue, night sweats and a swollen ankle.

On November 17, 2016, Mr Hancock, a kitchen fitter of Sharlston Common, suffered a heart attack and was rushed to hospital.

His wife Karen, 47, wanted to know why he was given the bloodthinning drug alteplase as part of a medical trial in the days that followed.

Coroner Kevin McLoughlin said: “The method of obtaining consent merits review, in my judgement.”

But he found that on the balance of probabilities, the drug did not have more than a minimal contribution to Mr Hancock’s death.

The inquest heard that Mr Hancock was found to have had endocarditis, a rare heart condition which could have been detected if blood cultures were had been taken in the summer before he died.

But the coroner said there had been no shortage of effort on the part of the medics trying to find out what was wrong with Mr Hancock. A verdict of natural causes was recorded.

After yesterday’s verdict, Rebecca Haigh, of law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: “The family accept the findings of the inquest today and Irwin Mitchell will continue to work with them to ensure that the lessons that have been identified are learnt so that no family has to go through what they have.”