Cancer survivor gran, 53, died after routine operation
8:49am Tuesday 12th April 2011 in Your Town
A GRANDMOTHER, who survived throat cancer, died less than two days after a routine procedure to remove gallstones, an inquest heard.
Maureen McKay, aged 53, from Chorley New Road, Horwich, developed severe pancreatitis following the operation at the Royal Bolton Hospital on September 13 last year.
An internal investigation has now been launched and two nurses re-trained following complaints about Ms McKay’s aftercare.
The hearing at Bolton Coroners Court heard that Ms McKay was warned the Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedure carried a small risk of pancreatitis.
The inquest was told there was a three to five per cent risk of the disease developing following an ERCP operation, but that only some of these cases would be severe.
But Ms McKay’s family made an official complaint about her aftercare.
Nurses at the hospital failed to realise she took morphine for pain related to her throat cancer four years earlier.
This meant she was not given the medication during the ERCP and the procedure had to be stopped.
She was also not observed as closely as she should have been.
Ms McKay was transferred to the high dependency unit but her condition worsened and doctors were unable to save her.
Recording a narrative verdict, deputy coroner Alan Walsh said Ms McKay died as a result of a recognised complication of the ERCP procedure.
Daughters Abbie Lomax, aged 24, and Jamie Daley, aged 27, believe their mum was let down by the hospital.
Abbie said: “Our mum was a fun loving woman who loved life, especially her grandchildren.
“We as a family still find it hard to accept the fact that such a simple procedure resulted in her death.
“The lack of care and the medical help she deserved was never there and, as a result, we had to watch her suffer and die in tremendous pain.”
Heather Edwards, head of communications at the hospital, said: “We’ve met with Ms McKay’s family about their concerns and have been addressing these and we will keep the family informed about progress.
“But we accept that there were parts of Ms McKay’s care which could have given a better patient experience and more reassurance to her family.”
