Mother demands answers as Ormskirk man dies after two-hour wait at Southport A & E

Feb 12 2009 by John Siddle, Ormskirk Advertiser

AN ORMSKIRK man who died in a casualty waiting room at Southport hospital after going untreated for nearly two hours had earlier joked with paramedics: “If I give you £20 will you take me somewhere else?”

Stephen Farrell, 44, of Owen Avenue, had been taken by ambulance to hospital with chest pains, where he suffered a fatal heart attack.

Paramedics had carried out an assessment of the former Skelmersdale taxi driver before booking him into casualty but he was NOT seen by a triage nurse.

A nurse discovered Mr Farrell slumped in a waiting room chair.

Devastated mum Vera, 70, has demanded to know how staff missed her only child’s critical condition, despite Mr Farrell being overweight and having previously been diagnosed as having an enlarged heart.

She said: “I want an apology from the hospital and a full admission that they have made a mistake.

“Nothing can be done to bring my son back and the hospital must make sure nothing like this ever happens again.”

Mrs Farrell, who is confined to her bed and struggles to walk, relied on her son as a full-time carer and has since had to relocate to her brother’s house.

She recalls her son as an avid lover of car-boot sales, who “collected more stuff than David Dickinson”.

She added: “Stephen was a smashing lad and he quit his job as a taxi driver to look after me. He used to take me everywhere and he would go and get my shopping. I really did depend on him. I am in shock.”

The hospital, which yesterday issued a full apology, insists Mr Farrell’s heart attack was of a type that “could not have been predicted” – despite a history of heart conditions within the family.

It is understood the triage nurse was assisting three critical patients when Mr Farrell was admitted to casualty.

Mrs Farrell added: “My mum died of heart problems, my brother has a heart condition and two aunties have had heart attacks.

“They should have looked at him. He might be alive today.”

Paramedics took Mr Farrell to hospital on Sunday, January 18, after he complained of chest pains.

While being admitted to casualty, he gave his personal details to the receptionist before taking a place in the waiting area, where he sat for nearly two hours.

Moments before his death he returned to reception to ask how much longer he may have to wait.

Mr Farrell’s funeral was held at Southport Crematorium on Wednesday, February 4.

See below for Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust’s statement.

SOUTHPORT and Ormskirk NHS Trust has offered a “full and unreserved” apology following the death of Stephen Farrell.

Chief executive Jonathan Parry says action has already been taken to ensure a repeat incident never happens.

The hospital has been accused of negligence by healthcare campaigners but insists that Mr Farrell’s sudden death “could not have been foreseen”.

The 44-year old carer suffered a heart attack in a casualty waiting room nearly two hours after being handed over by ambulance crews.

Mr Parry told the Advertiser: “I offer a full and unreserved apology for any omission that may have occurred in caring for Mr Farrell.

“I have arranged for a full report to be presented to the Trust board this week, after which I will personally provide Mrs Farrell with a full written explanation of what happened, together with the offer of a personal meeting if she so wishes.

“I would like to reassure our patients that we have carried out a thorough investigation of the incident and a number of actions have already been taken, to ensure that even at our busiest times, every thing that should be done will be done.”

Mr Farrell’s death came as hospital bosses reported unprecedented demand in casualty in mid-January.

The hospital insist that he suffered a heart attack “of a type that could not have been predicted”.

In a statement, a spokesman said: “Prior to arriving at the hospital, the paramedic team had carried out a full assessment, including vital signs, and on arrival the man was described by the paramedics as generally unwell, aching all over with some non-specific chest pain.

“This information was input to A&E and the man was booked in to the department by the ambulance crew.

“On arrival the A&E department was extremely busy and the triage nurse was assisting with three very poorly patients, classed as majors, who needed resuscitation.

“There was no obvious cause for concern at any time before this tragic event occurred.”

Hospital campaign group CARES has called for a full investigation and an immediate review of A&E admittance procedures.

Spokeswoman Cath Regan said: “The hospital claims that they were not medically at fault and they could not have saved the patient. We, however, call for a second autonomous opinion into this matter.

“We object to the fact that this man went into casualty with chest pains and was subsequently left alone for two hours without being properly assessed to receive medical assistance.

”Claims that staff were allegedly attending to more urgent cases are not sufficient.”