Coroner wants action over head injury procedures

Oldham Coroner Simon Nelson has asked for a change in Royal Oldham Hospital procedure - so patients suffering possible head injuries aren’t given blood thinners before their injuries are fully examined.

Mr Nelson’s request follows the sudden death of a patient in 2011.

Frederick Wright died at the hospital five days after being taken into A&E for treatment after collapsing in an Oldham pub in November 2011.

The 73 year old hit his head as he fell. Tests revealed the collapse could have been caused by a mild heart attack.

Mr Wright, of Incline Road was given anticoagulants to thin his blood and reduce the risk of another attack. Doctors asked for a non-urgent CT scan to check the head damage.

Over the next few days Mr Wright’s condition improved and his family expected him to be sent home. But after the scan, on November 28, his condition rapidly deteriorated.

A second scan showed a hemorrhag as a result of the fall, which might have been bleeding out slowly since. A post mortem found the cause of death was a brain haemorrhage, worsened by the use of the anticoagulants.

An inquest yesterday heard from consultant Colin Dibble, who said Mr Wright had shown no signs of significant head injury such as headaches, vomiting or confusion and wouldn’t have received an urgent brain scan, which might have spotted the bleeding sooner.

Mr Nelson said, ”I would like to see a discussion between consultants to advise if something can be implemented to avoid this situation in the future. This is a difficult case, but one we can learn from.”