Weight-Loss Surgery Patient Dies After Hospital ‘Failures’ During Junior Doctors’ Strike

A 55-year-old woman undergoing weight-loss surgery tragically died following a series of “failures” by a hospital to properly address complications that arose during the junior doctors’ strike. Susan Evans returned to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth just two days after undergoing gastric bypass surgery in July 2023, complaining of stomach pain.

Hospital Policy Not Followed

The coroner, Sally Olsen, revealed that Ms. Evans was not seen by a specialist weight-loss nurse or a senior doctor on the day she reported pain, despite hospital policy requiring such reviews for post-surgery patients. Notably, this occurred on the first day of the junior doctors’ strike.

The inquest heard that the nursing team, who administered pain relief, were unaware of the requirement for a senior doctor consultation. Ms. Evans was discharged despite experiencing pain, and tragically, she returned to the hospital two days later, significantly worse.

Deteriorating Condition Leads to Death

By the time Ms. Evans was re-admitted, she was “extremely unwell” with sepsis and required emergency surgery. Despite receiving further medical attention, her condition continued to deteriorate, leading to her death on August 12, 2023.

Coroner Ms. Olsen stated, “It is likely that, if she had been seen by a member of the bariatric team on July 13, 2023, she would have been kept in hospital and operated upon sooner.”

Hospital Failures Highlighted

In a prevention of future deaths report, Ms. Olsen outlined several concerning practices at Queen Alexandra Hospital. Her investigation revealed that hospital guidelines stipulated daily reviews by a bariatric specialist nurse, consultant, or registrar for weight-loss surgery patients. Additionally, a senior doctor was mandated to assess patients experiencing abdominal pain within two hours of arrival.

However, neither of these protocols was followed in Ms. Evans’ case, highlighting systemic failures that contributed to her tragic death.

The Portsmouth Hospital NHS Trust has been given until February 7, 2024, to respond to Ms. Olsen’s findings and implement necessary changes to prevent future tragedies.

**Learn more about patient safety concerns and advocate for improved healthcare standards. Visit [relevant website] today.**