Family hits out over 'active' OAP's death after procedure at Telford hospital
An independent and active elderly woman became "bedridden" and "immobile" in the final weeks of her life following a medical procedure at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital, an inquest heard.
The family of Dorothy Ethel Blessington criticised staff at the hospital at her inquest yesterday, claiming there had been a breach of care.
Mrs Blessington, 86, was treated at the hospital for a rare condition affecting her throat which caused food and liquid to get stuck, and died weeks after an endoscopy was carried out to investigate the problem.
But Mr John Ellery, Coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, ruled Mrs Blessington received appropriate care during her 11-week stay at the hospital.
He concluded that her death on February 6 was due to natural causes and contributed to by a complication of a surgical procedure.
Mrs Blessington had been visiting her family in Telford from Southampton but was taken to hospital in pain unable to swallow, the inquest was told.
She was diagnosed with a pharyngeal pouch that had developed near to the oesophagus and was causing food and liquid to get stuck. It was stated this only occurs to one in 100,000 people.
An endoscopy was carried out with the hope of stapling the pouch as a solution to the problem.
But Dr Stuart Thompson, consultant head and neck surgeon, decided not to staple the pouch during the procedure due to the risk, the inquest heard.
In the following weeks other solutions on how to move forward were discussed, but Mrs Blessington contracted an infection, deteriorated and died.
A post mortem examination revealed that during the endoscopy the pouch was perforated and Mr Ellery added that this contributed to her death.
Dr Thompson told the inquest that a perforation, which he was not aware of before her death, should have healed within 11 weeks.
Mrs Blessington's son John said his mother went from an independent woman, who looked after her own house and did her own shopping, to someone who was "bedridden" and "immobile" and wasn't eating. He said this decline and inactivity following an endoscopy contributed to her death.
Mr Blessington, who lives in Telford, said: "After a while she couldn't even turn herself to avoid bed sores. She walked on to the ward and after 11 weeks was bedridden. I think there was a breach of care."
But Mr Ellery said there was no evidence to suggest there had been a breach of care."
