Staffordshire patient died days after telling GP of headaches
A man from Staffordshire who died after collapsing with a brain haemorrhage had visited the doctor just days before to complain of headaches, an inquest heard.
Darren Summerfield died at County Hospital, Stafford, after he collapsed at his home on June 2.
An inquest was held at Cannock Coroners Court on Tuesday where it was revealed the civil engineer from Rugeley died of a ruptured berry aneurysm.
South Staffordshire assistant coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe concluded Mr Summerfield, died of natural causes and no opportunities to diagnose his cause of death were missed by doctors.
Mr Summerfield, 41, who lived in Hawthorn Way, Rugeley, was seen by two doctors in the weeks leading up to his death. On May 22, Mr Summerfield had visited a Boots Pharmacy drop in centre in Birmingham complaining of a headache where he was advised to book an appointment with his doctor.
He visited Dr Obazee at Sandy Lane Surgery in Rugeley where Mr Summerfield complained of a pain in his neck and shoulders and a headache.
The court also heard that Mr Summerfield was stressed from work and was not sleeping well. His blood pressure was also 'a little high'.
Dr Obazee told the court that it was a 'real shock' to hear of the death and that he did not show any additional concerning symptoms, such as vomiting or fever. Dr Obazee said: "He was a young man, generally well. I was shocked to hear he had collapsed."
On May 30, Mr Summerfield called 111 complaining of a headache and was advised to see an out of hours doctor at Cannock Chase Hospital.
He was seen by Dr Ijaola at the centre on Brunswick Road and had a 25 minute appointment. The family asked Dr Ijaola why Mr Sumerfield was not sent for a CT scan.
Dr Ijaola told the court that it 'was not possible' to send every person with a headache to Accident and Emergency and there were no other symptoms.
The following day, May 31, Mr Summerfield spent it with his wife and son and went to work as normal on June 1. On the day of this death, Mr Summerfield was getting ready for work when he collapsed in the bedroom. He died at 9.25am at the hospital on Weston Road.
A post mortem revealed Mr Summerfield had suffered from a subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Miss Ormond-Walshe said: "The GPs are in a situation where they can't send everyone with a headache to A&E and there were no other red flags at the time."
She added: "It is a devastating tragedy that he has died so suddenly with no major history of problems until the days before his death."
