Woman left in Oldham hospital corridor with disconnected oxygen mask dies after pulmonary embolism

Clarissa Street

An inquest at Rochdale Coroner’s Court heard Clarissa had been taken to hospital late on August 13 after suffering dizziness, vomiting and repeated episodes of passing out.

The University of Manchester graduate had previously experienced a pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis in 2017 and had been prescribed blood thinning medication at different periods between 2017 and 2024.

Evidence heard during the first day of the inquest revealed Clarissa was given an oxygen mask in A&E which was not connected to oxygen.

Staff Nurse Michelle Neale, who triaged Clarissa on arrival, told the hearing the mask had been used to help regulate her breathing after ambulance staff suggested she may have been hyperventilating.

Ms Neale accepted she should not have used the disconnected mask and said she “didn’t know” why she had done so.

The inquest heard Clarissa had low blood oxygen levels and an elevated heart rate but remained in a hospital corridor for around an hour after triage while awaiting further assessment.

Ms Neale told the hearing she requested blood tests, an ECG and venous blood gas testing before escalating Clarissa’s case to a senior nurse because she believed she needed a cubicle.

She said a senior nurse responded by saying Clarissa was “young so we’ll just keep an eye on her” while she was placed on fluids in the corridor.

Ms Neale told the inquest she would normally challenge such a decision but Clarissa had been able to speak in full sentences and communicate with staff.

The court also heard a paramedic handing Clarissa over to hospital staff suggested she may have been “overreacting and having a panic attack”.

Clarissa was later moved for higher level treatment but her condition deteriorated and she died hours later.

Her cause of death was recorded as pulmonary embolism with a background of fatty liver disease.

The inquest heard that national guidance in 2017 did not require a referral to haematology or long term anticoagulant treatment because her earlier pulmonary embolism had been considered provoked.

Medical evidence accepted that further testing at the time may have identified an underlying condition. However, the hearing was told it could not be concluded that the 2017 and 2024 embolisms were directly linked.