Inadequate Triage and Missed Opportunities for Assessment at Hospital: Woman’s death caused by severe pain hours after hospital discharge

Leila Benyounes represented the family of a 63-year-old lady who suffered an acute cardiac arrhythmia due to severe pain hours after she had been discharged from hospital in May 2022.

The deceased, a former fitness instructor with a medical history of osteoarthritis to her right hip, had awoken with extreme pain to her right hip and required Entonox and intravenous morphine prior to transfer to hospital by ambulance.

It was held at the inquest that the triage within the emergency department was inadequate, did not include a pain score or pull through significant information onto the hospital records, including the opiate analgesia prescribed by the paramedics. It was also held that there was an under-triage of the deceased’s condition, and it was appropriate for the deceased to be admitted for a mobility assessment prior to discharge which did not occur.

It was found that the death was due to a cardiac arrhythmia caused by acute adrenaline excess, as a result of the severe pain the deceased was experiencing to her right hip.

A narrative conclusion was recorded at the inquest in which it was held that there was an inadequate triage and missed opportunities for assessment at hospital.

Leila was instructed by Victoria Wanless at Beacham Peacock Solicitors.

Leila Benyounes is Head of the Inquests Team at Parklane Plowden Chambers and is ranked as Band 1 by Legal 500 for Inquests and Inquiries. Leila has been appointed to the Attorney General’s Treasury Counsel Panel A since 2010. Leila is appointed as Assistant Coroner for Gateshead and South Tyneside. Leila regularly represents interested persons in a wide range of inquests including Article 2 jury inquests and complex medical matters.  Her full profile can be accessed here.