Probe launched after patient died of virus while in hospital for planned operation
An investigation has been launched following concerns raised by a former NHS worker who says her father caught coronavirus and died at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital after being admitted for a planned operation.
Lisa Broom has filed a formal complaint with Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) following the death of her 70-year-old father Graham Johnson on December 20.
The 40-year-old, who lives in Lawley, Telford, said he had been admitted to RSH on November 2 for an above-knee amputation.
But she says due to a low haemoglobin level he was firstly placed on a ward to receive a blood transfusion and IV fluids for hydration.
In her complaint letter Lisa states that, following his procedure on November 11, he developed pneumonia and stayed in hospital where he received antibiotics.
However, he tested positive for coronavirus in December and died days later.
Lisa, who had worked at SaTH for 11 years and was a nursing associate before resigning last month, has raised a number of concerns about the care given to her father, who had lived in Wellington.
She says he had been bed-bound and has raised questions about the hospital’s infection prevention procedures.
She has also complained about her father developing a pressure sore during his stay, as well as the way an unsuccessful attempt at discharging him to a care home was handled.
Hospital bosses say they are in the process of examining all of the issues raised.
In her letter of complaint, which she made in January, Lisa said: “On December 10 I was asked to attend the hospital as my father had developed another more severe pneumonia and the doctors made me aware that he might not survive this bout.
"He did in fact recover from this third bout, but the bay he was in was subsequently closed following the admittance of a positive Covid patient to his bay.
Devastating
“This resulted in my father being classified as Covid contact for the second time and five days later he tested positive for Covid-19. On December 20 my father passed away from the effects of the Covid-19 virus.
“I directly observed staff not following Covid-19 PPE guidance and using efficient infection prevention procedures.
“My father was receiving all care in bed and not sharing patient facilities so there should have been minimal risk of infection from the virus. Covid-19 is a devastating virus and watching your dad die from a virus he was so very scared of stays with you in the front of your mind.”
Lisa said following her father’s death she developed severe anxieties in returning to work and resigned last month.
She has now started her own dog walking service and has also joined a course to become a certified dog trainer.
"It is called Bailey's Dog Walking Service after my dog Bailey," she said.
"I found walking him through these hard times has given me so much more than I could have ever imagined."
Responding to the complaint, Hayley Flavell, director of nursing at SaTH, said: “Our thoughts are with the family of Mr Johnson and we are very sorry that they have concerns over his care.
"We take these concerns incredibly seriously and are in the process of examining all of the issues that have been raised with us.”
