Depression and fear of falling led to blood clots tragedy as Cherry, 68, stopped moving

INQUEST TOLD OF THE FATAL EFFECTS OF DVT

A WOMAN died from blood clots after depression and a fear of falling led to her avoiding movement.

Cherry Dunn, 68, was a hospital patient in the last days of her life after a fall, and during that time a blood clot from her leg went to her lungs and she died from deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

An inquest into her death began at Leicester City Hall on Monday and Professor Kevin West, who carried out the post-mortem examination, was the first witness to give evidence.

He said the immediate cause of death was DVT, which involved a large blood clot forming in her leg and moving to her lungs, causing a blockage that eventually stopped her heart from beating.

She had suffered a second fall at hospital shortly before her death, but he said he did not consider that a cause of her dying on November 5, 2018.

Prof West said: “There was a sudden collapse on November 5. I conducted an internal examination and found bruising under the scalp consistent with a fall.

“Although there had been a blow to the head, I did not think that was relevant to Mrs Dunn’s death.

“There were large blood clots in the arteries in her lungs that were blocking the arteries.

“Blood clots were also present in the veins of the left leg.

“My conclusion was that death was due to a pulmonary embolism when a clot got from the deep veins of the leg to the pulmonary arteries in the lungs.

“In this case there was a complete blockage of the pulmonary arteries. If the heart can’t pump blood out from the right side due to a blockage, circulation stops.”

He said his cause of death recorded DVT as the direct cause, along with inactivity.

He said that from the information he had received, the immobility was caused by Mrs Dunn’s depressive illness and fear of falls.

There were no physical reasons to stop her moving around more.

He said: “Mrs Dunn had limited mobility because she had severe depressive illness and she had suffered some falls and that made her more reluctant to be mobile.”

The coroner, Professor Catherine

Mason, asked if there were any physical medical reasons Mrs Dunn could not be active.

Prof West replied there were no pre-existing conditions and that the DVT would have developed over “a few days”.

The inquest, which is being held with a jury, also heard that Mrs Dunn had been in the city’s hospitals since October 3, 2018, having been admitted to Glenfield Hospital after the first fall.

She was later taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary and went from there to the Kirby Ward at Glenfield Hospital’s Bennion Centre, a mental health services centre for older people which is run by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. The inquest is expected to continue until the middle of next week.

The victim was treated at Glenfield’s Bennion Centre, pictured, a mental health services centre for older people