Inquest to examine whether Dudley hospital failings led to pensioner's death

Dorothy Dunn, 86, died at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital in July 2017 following what her family claimed were a series of unnecessary delays in her care.

An inquest has now been set for January and will seek to ascertain exactly what happened and whether failings contributed to her death.

Mrs Dunn, from Sedgley, died after being taken to hospital due to swelling of her tongue.

The inquest opening earlier this month heard an emergency tracheostomy was performed after Mrs Dunn developed shortness of breath. She later suffered a cardiac arrest and died a week after she was admitted to hospital.

The family believes the hospital did not have the correct medical equipment in place in the emergency department at the time, that doctors failed to act appropriately and that Mrs Dunn was left without treatment for a prolonged period of time.

Questions

Michael Portman-Hann, chartered legal executive at law firm FBC Manby Bowdler's clinical negligence team, which is supporting the family, said: “Her family have so many questions and concerns about the care she received and this inquest will help provide them with the answers they so desperately want and deserve.

“There was no formal investigation at the time of Mrs Dunn’s death and her family were not told about the circumstances until they requested Mrs Dunn’s medical records over 18 months later.

“They subsequently entered into discussions with the hospital trust and approached FBC Manby Bowdler to help investigate what had happened and to write to the coroner on their behalf.

“We believe that there are a number of questions surrounding Mrs Dunn’s care and this inquest will provide the family with the proper forum to raise their concerns and for the hospital trust to answer them.”

The Dudley Group NHS Trust, which runs Russells Hall, has been contacted for comment.