Mum-of-four, 43, died after 'planned surgery was cancelled three times at last minute'

12/20/2024 02:18 PM

A MUM-of-four died after her operation was cancelled at the last minute three times.

Karen Dack was scheduled for the planned surgeries to treat a bowel condition at Leicester Royal Infirmary in April and May but they were axed due to lack of theatre capacity.

The 43-year-old, from Melton, Leicestershire, finally had an urgent op when her condition deteriorated. However, she developed sepsis and died.

Leicester assistant coroner Diane Hocking said evidence shows Karen would have survived had she been operated on sooner.

Partner Emmi Akamo, 40, said Karen had been failed “multiple times” and she “should still be here”.

He told the BBC: “We were told it was a routine thing, keyhole procedure and that is why it really hurts.

“Each time she was in hospital ready for the operation, doing nil-by-mouth, only for it to be called off.

“She was a great mother, full of life and love, and she just wanted to get her health sorted.”

Her family said in a statement: “Karen was a beloved mother, daughter, sister, and friend whose death was entirely preventable.

“We hope her tragic loss drives urgent reforms to ensure no other family endures such a devastating outcome.”

In a prevention of future deaths report, Ms Hocking said the surgery in April was cancelled “because there were no intensive care beds and her condition had appeared to have resolved”.

A fast-tracked op was planned for May 17 before Karen was taken to A&E on May 2.

Another surgery was planned but superseded by “more urgent” cases, the report added.

Ms Hocking said a consultant planned to do the surgery the following day but due to a breakdown in communication, Karen was discharged and told to return for her planned op on May 17.

However, she returned to hospital days later due to severe abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea but planned surgery on May 7 was cancelled “due to the volume of operations at this time”, the report added.

Ms Hocking said Karen’s condition deteriorated on May 8 and she had urgent surgery, from which she never recovered.

The inquest found she died from sepsis and a perforated bowel.

The coroner was told by a senior clinical director at LRI a review into how patients are prioritised was carried out.

However, they added there are currently “no immediate plans” for any extra theatre capacity at any of the hospitals run by the University of Hospitals NHS Trust.

Ms Hocking said she is “concerned” that “this issue will happen again, and further deaths may occur” due to the lack of resources.

The report was sent to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

The government department told the BBC it would respond to the coroner in due course.