Tragic patient died of blood clot, aged 21

A father-to-be died from a massive blood clot hours after returning home from a hospital which had treated him for a broken arm, an inquest heard.

Gareth Heath, aged 21, of Halesowen, complained to his family of chest pain, shortness of breath and shooting pains in his arm in the days leading up to his death.

Black Country deputy coroner Dr Andrew Thompson said he was considering writing to City Hospital to clarify its position on treating patients with a family history of blood clots as a result of the case.

Bosses at City Hospital today said they would be looking at their policies to see if they need to be amended.

Mr Heath, a customer service adviser, suffered a pulmonary embolism in his lungs and collapsed at the flat he shared with his girlfriend Sarah in Green Lane.

He died at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital on November 28, 2009 — the day after his cast on his broken arm was removed at Birmingham's City Hospital.

Mr Heath, who had been treated at City Hospital after injuring his arm in a road accident, died weeks before his son James was born. The inquest at Smethwick Coroner's Court office yesterday heard his family history included problems with thrombosis — the formation of a blood clot.

Dr Swapna Ghosh, consultant pathologist at Russells Hall Hospital, said Mr Heath died after a blood clot had dislodged from his leg and moved, blocking his lung.

Mr Heath's mother Deborah said her son should have had a scan and blood tests to see if he was suffering from thrombosis at City Hospital.

She is now considering taking legal action.

"I should not have lost my son," she said. Dr Thompson recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.