Heart death call: Coroner tells NUH to improve medics' training

UNDIAGNOSED MAN DIED DAY HE WAS DISCHARGED

- By RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU

A MAN died due to an undiagnosed condition the same day he was discharged from hospital.

David Jones was 65 when he died on April 5 last year at the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham due to an undiagnosed aortic dissection.

The retired change programme manager went to the emergency department after an episode of dizziness on April 3 but was deemed fit for discharge two days later.

While in hospital, the Wollaton man had low blood pressure and a low heart rate and his blood pressure and kidney function were monitored.

Coroner Nathanael Hartley said at an inquest held at Nottingham Coroner's Court in September that Mr Jones had suffered chest pain and sweatiness in hospital but it was not brought to the attention of a senior doctor.

As a result, a further clinical assessment and consideration of further investigations did not happen.

Mr Hartley said: "Those likely further investigations may well have revealed the presence of an aortic dissection."