A grieving Spalding man whose wife of 48 years died after a hospital mistake has fought a campaign to ensure that something similar cannot happen again.
The NHS has admitted that it “materially contributed” to the death of Ann Coupland.
Widower John said: “I just don’t want any other family to go through what we did.
“Ann and I were like Darby and Joan. As well as my wife, she was my best friend.”
Ann (66), of Carrington Road, died from septicemia and a perforated bowel in Peterborough City Hospital on September 1, 2011.
It happened the week after she had been discharged from the hospital following a six-day stay.
John said: “During the final home visit, the GP asked if we wanted to go to hospital in Boston or Peterborough.
“The Pilgrim didn’t have a very good reputation at that time, but if I had said Boston she might still be alive today.”
John only learned at the inquest into Ann’s death that a CT scan during her hospital stay identified that she needed an emergency colonoscopy (examination of the large bowel). Instead she was sent home, with staff only scheduling the procedure as an outpatient appointment for almost three weeks later.
Yet just four days after discharge, Ann woke at 5am in terrible pain. John dialled 999 for an ambulance, but her situation wasn’t deemed a top priority and a two-hour response was booked.
However, soon after arrival at hospital Ann was taken into resuscitation, and by lunchtime she was in the operating theatre.
Staff advised John that they didn’t expect his wife to survive. She died two days later.
Bilal Rawat, acting on behalf of the Coupland family at the inquest, said failings included:
> insufficient regard to the CT scan
> the decision to give Ann an outpatient appointment for the colonoscopy
> failure to monitor her properly after the CT scan
The hearing was told that lessons had been learned at the hospital.
Coroner David Heming told John: “Hopefully your faith in the NHS will be restored because you have heard about improvements.”
Ann retired from horticultural work at 63. Four great-grandchildren have been born since her death, with a fifth due in January.
John said: “Ann was a family person and the fact she never got to see any of her great-grandchildren is what hurts the most.”
The inquest verdict is due shortly.
