No hospital admission 'contributed' to mum's death

A hospital's decision not to admit a young mother who died less than 24 hours later from pneumonia "contributed to the death", an inquest found.

Tanya McCartney, 25, died at her home in Derbyshire on 19 May 2023, after she was sent home from Chesterfield Royal Hospital with a course of antibiotics.

Her mother Natasha Johnson said the failures in her care, acknowledged by the coroner, did not lessen "the absolute heartbreak we live with every single day".

Kevin Sargen, medical director at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said a thorough review had been carried out and improvements made aimed at strengthening patient assessment, escalation and clinical decision-making.

"We would like to again express our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Tanya McCartney," said Sargen.

"We accept the findings of the coroner in relation to the care provided in May 2023."

Returning a narrative conclusion at the inquest, assistant coroner Anita Davis said: "Had she been admitted on the evening of the 18 May and given appropriate intravenous antibiotics, it is more likely than not that she would have survived.

"The decision not to admit Tanya to hospital on the evening of the 18 May, but rather to offer her a choice between admission or return home, contributed to the death."

Johnson paid tribute to "a beautiful, funny, loving daughter, sister and granddaughter", and "above all, an incredible mum, who lived for her little boy".

"Our family struggled to understand how Tanya could go to hospital desperately unwell and then die the very next day," she said.

"While the hospital has accepted that, had Tanya been admitted she would probably have survived, hearing that is devastating.

"We can only hope that the trust takes the coroner's words to heart so that no other mother has to know their child's death was entirely preventable."

McCartney, a mental health care assistant, had gone to hospital on 18 May with chest pains, a cough, elevated heart rate and a fever after being told to go to A&E by her GP.

After tests for suspected chest sepsis, a consultant believed she had an infection and, suspecting this was due to a throat abscess, McCartney was referred to the ear, nose and throat department.

Instead of being admitted, she was offered the option of being discharged with antibiotics.

McCartney picked up her car from her GP practice and went home, but became "very unwell, showing signs of confusion".

Her family said she had difficulty recognising her partner and son.

Sitting on the sofa, McCartney stopped breathing and an ambulance was called, but despite CPR and the efforts of paramedics, she died.

Law firm Slater and Gordon, representing the family, said a Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust investigation initially found the decision to discharge McCartney was appropriate, and an inquest closed in 2023.

But Slater and Gordon added, after a legal fight, the trust admitted liability and said the decision was inappropriate and the inquest was reopened in February.

Clinical negligence solicitor Rebecca Dowse said: "Tanya's family has shown extraordinary determination in pursuing answers.

"They have had to endure not only the devastating loss of a much-loved daughter and mother, but also years of uncertainty while trying to understand how such a tragedy could occur."

Since McCartney's death, the trust has introduced several changes and learning measures, including strengthened oversight of higher-risk patients within the emergency department, improvements to referral and handover procedures, and the introduction of a new electronic patient record system, the law firm added.

Listen to BBC Radio Derby on Sounds and follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.