Woman died after stiff neck diagnosis

A mother-of-four from Wolverhampton died of a brain haemorrhage after being told by a junior doctor she had a stiff neck, an inquest heard.

Caryl Thompson went to the city's New Cross Hospital after suffering a sudden pain in the head, blurred vision, a stiff neck and pins and needles in her hands while out shopping.

The 48-year-old was seen in the A&E department by second-year trainee Dr Amy Webster on May 28 last year.

Dr Webster admitted Mrs Thompson, also known as Hinton, showed some classic symptoms of a leaking aneurysm in the brain but at the time, on May 28 last year, she did not seek advice from a consultant and did not order a CT scan.

The patient was told she had a muscle injury and was given painkillers, the inquest heard.

Mrs Thompson, of Gatis Street, Whitmore Reans, collapsed at home on June 13 and was rushed to hospital but slipped into a coma and died.

The inquest heard that New Cross Hospital did not have paper copies of guidelines on how to treat headaches and head injuries available for junior doctors.

Pathologist Dr Kenneth Scott told the inquest that the symptoms were a sign of a brain aneurysm "on the balance of probabilities". He added that had a CT scan been carried out the condition could have been treatable.

Wolverhampton Coroner Richard Allen adjourned the hearing to July 5.