Health visitor concerned by hospital care of dad

THE family of an Oldham man who died of pneumonia following surgery at the Royal Oldham Hospital have raised concerns about his care.

Brian Taylor (81), from Stoneleigh Street, Derker, had an operation on March 9 this year to remove a cancerous polyp from his bowel.

The operation was successful but Mr Taylor began to deteriorate and was transferred to North Manchester General Hospital’s intensive care unit on March 16. He died two days later.

Speaking at an inquest held in Manchester yesterday, Mr Taylor’s daughter, Susan Lees, said the family had concerns about the treatment he received.

Mrs Lees, a health visitor for NHS Blackburn, said her father had not been told the full extent of the operation, his medical notes were not properly filled out, he was not given antibiotics after surgery, and he had no access to his asthma inhaler for days.

Mrs Lees, from Cleveleys, said: “There were lots and lots of signs that were overlooked and not seen to.”

Cause of death was post-operative pneumonia, but a post-mortem examination revealed heart failure was a contributory factor and there was evidence of infection in his abdomen.

David Richards, consultant colorectal surgeon at the Royal Oldham Hospital, said Mr Taylor had given consent for the procedure and the risks had been outlined.

He agreed with Manchester coroner Nigel Meadows that giving antibiotics to surgery patients can cause complications, such as the hospital bug Clostridium Difficile.

He also agreed that sometimes there would be no entries and pages left blank on patients’ notes, but said Mr Taylor’s notes had detailed the medical action taken.

Mr Richards said there was only certain thing that could be done to try and get patients through recovery.

He said: “I’ve been through his notes several times. I couldn’t see any significant thing that we would have done differently to stave off the deterioration.”

Mr Meadows recorded a verdict that Mr Taylor died from complications arising out of necessary medical treatment.

He said: “I recognise there might have been lapses in the medical records and there might have been medical care you would want done differently.

“People have to make the best judgements they can at that time.”

Speaking afterwards, Mrs Lees said: “We don’t think he was listened to, and there is nowhere in these notes that anything I said was taken into account.

“I was asking questions for my dad and I was fobbed off. I don’t think it has been fully resolved.”