Third Northamptonshire hospital death due to delay
Published: 05:28PM BST 13 Jan 2012
compensation but
assurance it
won't happen again"
Richard Follis, Partner
Phyllis Asten, aged 87, suffered a broken hip in a fall, but had to wait almost an hour-and-a-half before an ambulance took her to Northampton General Hospital.
Having been there an hour, she suffered a heart attack. She was revived by doctors, but later died.
Partner and medical negligence specialist Andrea Rusbridge said: "This is the third death in the county of an elderly person who's sustained a fracture, then due to delays getting proper and appropriate treatment, has died.
"Access Legal from Shoosmiths is handling two cases – one at Northampton General Hospital, the other at Kettering General Hospital – in which patients had a fall, but a fracture to the neck was missed.
"Both patients died of pneumonia within days.
"The vast majority of patients receive the correct care, but the elderly and vulnerable seem to be the ones who suffer first from delays and shortages.
"This is well documented in reports on care of the elderly, but nothing seems to have changed."
Tell us what you think
All documents should be read and used in accordance with the terms and conditions. This document is for your general information only and is not a detailed statement of the law. It is provided to you free of charge and should not be used as a substitute for specific legal advice. If you require specific legal advice please contact our helpline on 03700 86 86 86.
