Hospitals' delays on pacemaker infection may have contributed to death of mum, 79

Coroner writes to trusts advising lessons need to be learned

- BY JOSH PENNINGTON

A Stockport mum died after she was made to wait months for the NHS to take action on an infection around her pacemaker

A STOCKPORT mum died after she was made to wait months for the NHS to take action on an infection around her pacemaker.

Honoria Culshaw, from Hazel Grove, went to her GP in March 2024 showing signs of infection around the site of her pacemaker, which she had had a surgical procedure on four months prior.

Mrs Culshaw then went to Wythenshawe Hospital in July 2024 when the infection worsened and the wound began to open.

In the months that followed, Mrs Culshaw was passed between care at Royal Preston Hospital and Wythenshawe Hospital.

The lack of communication between the two caused further delays that may have contributed to her death at the age of 79 on October 25, 2024, a coroner has said.

An inquest into Mrs Culshaw's death was held in Stockport last month.

And Anna Morris KC, assistant coroner for Greater Manchester South, has now written to the NHS Trusts in charge of both hospitals involved with Ms Culshaw's treatment, advising that lessons need to be learned from her tragic death.

Ms Morris said: “Mrs Culshaw attended Wythenshaw Hospital on the 10th July 2024 an presented with an opening of her pacemaker scar.