Mr R had a triple bypass operation in June 2008 at a hospital run by Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust (the Trust). Over the next week he remained in hospital while his condition deteriorated and he developed complications with his breathing and circulation. Tests showed nothing obviously wrong with Mr R’s heart. Nine days after the bypass surgery, surgeons carried out exploratory surgery and found nothing. Sadly, Mr R died later that day.
No post mortem examination was carried out. The doctors certified Mr R’s death as being caused by inadequate circulation and multiple organ failure caused by pneumonia. Mr R’s daughter, Miss R, complained in writing, asking the Trust how her father acquired pneumonia. The Trust told her that they could not comment on whether or not Mr R had contracted pneumonia.
We formally investigated Miss R’s complaint and found that the management of Mr R’s illness was reasonable. However, despite having good reasons for the two causes of death the doctors recorded, the Trust failed to explain this to Miss R when she complained. We found that because she did not receive an explanation, Miss R’s distress at her father’s death was exacerbated. The Trust agreed to apologise to Miss R and pay her £250 in compensation.