Jim, 77, died 9 days after knee surgery
INQUEST HEARS PATIENT AT QUEEN’S HOSPITAL HAD A HEART ATTACK JUST OVER A WEEK AFTER OPERATION WHILE SUFFERING FROM A RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION
A 77-YEAR-OLD man died from a heart attack nine days after he underwent major knee replacement surgery, an inquest has heard.
James Taylor, known to his family as Jim, died at Burton’s Queen’s Hospital on November 12, last year, while fighting off a lower respiratory tract infection he had developed following his knee surgery.
Consultants at the hospital said Mr Taylor, of Horninglow Road North, Burton, seemed to be recovering well from the routine surgery at the hospital but later became unresponsive and was moved to the intensive care unit.
He died nine days after the surgery to his family’s shock, who believed he was well and said they were left surprised by his death.
Andrew Haigh, South Staffordshire coroner held the inquest into Mr Taylor’s death on Wednesday.
He heard from Raja Vankataramen, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the hospital who carried out the knee replacement surgery.
Mr Vankataramen told the hearing that Mr Taylor suffered with hypertension [high blood pressure], type 2 diabetes, gout and had stage 3 chronic kidney disease.
He had also recovered from cancer in 2011 and had had a hip replacement.
The consultant also said he had an abnormal rhythm in his heart, which delayed his surgery due to concerns about this cardiac condition.
Mr Taylor had been referred to the hospital by his GP on October 23 for the surgery and the operation was carried out on November 3.
His usual surgeon was selfisolating at the time and Mr Vankataramen carried out the operation.
He told the hearing: “It went well. It was fairly routine surgery; nothing out of the ordinary.”
Mr Taylor was moved to a ward and the inquest was told there was no need for additional intensive care.
On November 4, Mr Taylor was recovering well, but by November 5 he developed a lower respiratory tract infection and was given antibiotics and put on oxygen.
On the morning on November 6 his condition had not got any worse and he was requiring less oxygen.
However, by the evening Mr Vankataramen said Mr Taylor had become slightly confused but was still communicating.
At 11.07pm the same night he asked the nurse for a bed pan. He was given privacy for this but 10 minutes later he was found unresponsive, and following successful resuscitation was moved to the intensive care unit. He died six days later.
Mr Vankataramen told the hearing: “He did suffer from significant medical needs.
“I did feel it was cardiac failure. Knee replacement surgery is a major operation and the body is going through a stressful period.
“During surgery and immediately afterwards there were no concerns but he was still not out of the woods.”
During the inquest his family revealed they did not know about his kidney disease, which his records say he had been diagnosed with in 2012.
They said they wondered if he knew and whether he would have elected to have the surgery if he knew.
The family also noted a few days after the operation, Mr Taylor had felt faint during a visit to the physiotherapist.
The family said he was put on his knees, despite having undergone a major operation on his knee.
Mr Vankataramen said this was not standard practice but would have done to keep him safe from a fall. He had been on his knees but then put on to his bottom, the hearing was told.
Mr Haigh gave a cause of death as cardiac failure and myocardial infarction [heart attack] with knee replacement surgery, obesity, diabetes and kidney disease as secondary factors.
He recorded a narrative verdict of natural conditions accentuated by surgery.
COUNTY councillors have called for the maximum value of gifts and hospitality they can receive privately to be increased to £100 before they have to be declared as part of a new code of conduct is being considered.
Currently, any item of gift or hospitality over the value of £50 must be declared publicly, but there is a call by Staffordshire county councillors for that amount to be doubled.
One of those calling for the figure to rise is Uttoxeter councillor David Brookes. He said: “The £25 was far too low and I still think the £50 is far too low. It raises more questions than it answers.
“I remember when I was a borough councillor a resident of mine in Uttoxeter was upset – the house she lived in had a road sign that said public toilet pointing directly to her house but it meant 50 yards up the road.
“Because the sign was moved she wanted to say thank you and give me a bottle of wine. At the time I declined it and I think she was quite upset and put down by that.
“Regularly a friend of mine invites me for a day out at Uttoxeter Races; he’s got a box. He’s a close and personal friend. I don’t want to be scratching my head as to whether I should declare it or not, as clearly the day’s entertainment that I receive and the company I couldn’t buy for £50.
“I think £100 would be more appropriate because if we’re not careful we’re confusing things. If it was £100, it removes any element of doubt that it was given to you as a gift to influence any decision that you might have.
“Most of us as county councillors are fairly professional people and we’ve had a lifetime of experience in business or whatever field we’ve been involved with. We’re probably used to receiving this level of hospitality or gift.
“I think the limit should be a more pragmatic limit that stops any confusion and stops the nonsense of some of the complaints many of us have to deal with.” Councillor Alistair Little said: “I think £50 is a bit silly – we are grownups and professionals. In my role as a councillor I go to the agricultural show, get parking and a sandwich. That’s well more than £50 – I think it’s £60, so I’m 20 per cent over the limit.
“In my professional life I get given first class flights, five star hotels, helicopters and Ferraris for the weekend for my wife and it doesn’t affect the way I do business for my clients. In that respect it’s dumbing down the fact that councillors can have a view in a very forward-facing important political role, that we could be bribed by a bottle of wine when we come here with skills sets that mean we can do the job competently and well enough from our private life and private businesses.”
Councillor Carolyn Trowbridge said: “The limit was £25, we’re upping it to £50. I can’t see why we’re having this discussion. We’re going in the right direction for the time.
“What wine has David Brookes been given? You need to come to Aldi with me – for £3.99 you can get an awardwinning wine.
“The only thing I have ever been given as a councillor is flowers, which is under £50. “I’m obviously not moving in the same circles as everybody else here.
“Just to record it after £50 – I don’t see what the big deal is. I think we’re making a huge fuss for nothing.”
However, some agreed with the notion that the limit was too low.
Councillor Paul Northcott said: “We are professional, we operate in very high standards in terms of our own personal and business lives and I think we should be trusted in this respect.
“I think the limit is far too low, bearing in mind there are things like invites to the County Show.
“A couple of tickets for myself and my wife could easily go over £50 and I don’t think that’s reflective of the times we live in.”
The Local Government Association has produced a new model code of conduct for elected members, which Staffordshire County Council is considering for adoption.
I don’t see what the big deal is. I think we’re making a huge fuss for nothing.
Councillor Carolyn Trowbridge