Health services' errors slammed by coroner at Adam's inquest

HE COULD HAVE LIVED IF THEY HAD LISTENED

- By JOEL MOORE

A YOUNG Nottingham man most likely would have survived if clinicians had listened to his pleas for help days before his death, an inquest has found.

Adam Hussain, 23, died of multi-organ failure after developing sepsis, caused by a burst appendix, at the Queen's Medical Centre (QMC) on May 16.

His death followed days of repeated calls to emergency services in which the Clifton resident complained of worsening abdominal pain, an inability to stand and told of blood in his urine and vomit.

Concluding an inquest on Friday, a coroner said there were "many missed opportunities" by East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) and Nottingham Emergency Medical Services (NEMS) to recognise the severity of his condition.

"Had he been seen for a face-to-face assessment on May 14, he likely would have survived what is a treatable condition," said assistant coroner Elizabeth Didcock, who ruled the lack of action had made a "more than minimal contribution" to his death.

Following the inquest, Mr Hussain's brother Qasim said it had been "very hard" for the family, "especially knowing that Adam could have been saved if his condition had been treated sooner".

"I witnessed firsthand how quickly he became unwell and how his symptoms worsened.

"We phoned for medical attention many times, but no one came, despite Adam telling them he was too unwell to stand, never mind make his own way to the hospital."

Mr Hussain's death followed that of Jake Hartwright, another young man who died in similar circumstances on January 17.

There were missed opportunities by the same NHS organisations to arrange for an ambulance for the 25-year-old a day earlier, when he told a 111 call handler he was passing out frequently, projectile vomiting and that he could not walk.