Family ‘feel let down’ after coroner rules doctors at New Cross Hospital not to blame for death

Nellie Coates, a former dinner lady at Darlaston Comprehensive School, died at New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton after suffering a heart attack.

Her daughter Lesley Wain and granddaughter Cassandra Moore claimed she could have been treated earlier.

They said she was showing signs of having cardiac trouble during her two stays in the hospital last August and October, but was being treated for epigastric pain. She died on October 10, aged 89, with an inquest ruling she passed away due to natural causes and passing no blame on Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.

The inquest, held at Oldbury Coroners Court, heard she was a ‘happy, healthy woman’ until she fell down stairs and damaged her shoulder at her home in late 2015.

This led to a long stay in hospital for Mrs Coates, who was born in Walsall and lived in Wednesbury at the time of her death. She was released only to return in August 2016 after contracting sepsis and continuing to suffer with her shoulder.

When she was taken back to hospital, her family told the court they informed staff of infrequent chest pains but claimed they were not followed up.

Speaking during the inquest, daughter Lesley Wain said: “We feel that we told staff repeatedly that she was having chest pain and so did my mother, but they wouldn’t listen to us.”

She was released from hospital after around six weeks but was forced to return one day later, on October 5, as her chest pain by this point was severe.

Ms Wain said: “They should not have let her out and when a nurse came to see her, she told us to send her back to hospital.

“Her chest was so bad by this point that she was vomiting and having trouble breathing, we feel she was showing all the signs of having a heart attack coming. We feel this had worsened in hospital and she had told staff about this.”

During this time, doctors continued to treat her for what they believe was gastric problems.

Dr Timothy McBride, consultant orthopaedic surgeon, said: “Due to her complex medical history, it isn’t as black and white as saying she was suffering from epigastric pain or chest pain. None of our records indicate we were told about chest pain. Some of the symptoms do cross over as well, which made it more difficult for us. We gave her the best treatment we could.”

Coroner Zafar Siddique said he could not say the hospital acted negligently while caring for Mrs Coates and she died after a heart attack.

He said: “I have been told by medical professionals today that her symptoms weren’t clear in terms of whether it was chest problems or epigastric problems that was causing her to be so ill.

“I understand that sometimes these things aren’t black and white.

“While she was at the hospital, she was given attention and treated well, with doctors trying various methods to improve her health but sadly they couldn’t.

“I can assure the family that any mention of chest pain is treated seriously at any hospital.”

Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Coates’ daughter, Lesley Wain, paid tribute to her mother, who she says was ‘respected by everyone she knew’ in her local area.

She said: “I am not happy with the outcome today,We feel let down. but I have so much lover for my mother that I had to fight for her and stand up for what I thought was right.

“She will be sadly missed and not just by us, She was respected by everyone and a beloved member of the community.

“She was a dinner lady but even people who left school years ago would see her in her old age and call her Mrs, as though she was a teacher.

“She was a happy person who had a lot of love for her friends and family.”