A top surgeon has told the inquiry into a Kirkcaldy woman’s death it would have been too late to save her when a gastric ulcer burst.
Linda Allan should also have had her medication reviewed at east every 48 hours, Mark Blyth said.
He said her increasing pain levels should have raised alarm, resulting in her case being escalated to more senior medics.
Ms Allan, 59, was admitted to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy with a broken leg after a fall in her garden on October 15 2019.
She died on October 23 – six days after an operation – after a stomach ulcer burst, causing bleeding into her bowel and multiple organ failure.
Her family has claimed her treatment was “dangerously incompetent”.
A Significant Adverse Event Review (SAER) was carried out by NHS Fife in March 2020 and suggested the bleed may have been caused, at least partly, by an anti-inflammatory drug.
Case should have been ‘escalated’
Mr Blyth, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, told the fatal accident inquiry (FAI) at Dunfermline Sheriff Court early intervention would have increased Ms Allan’s chances of recovery.
He said of someone like Ms Allan, presenting with a history of stomach ulcers and whose body was starting to shut down: “If you were to perform a laparotomy it would already be too late.”
The inquiry previously heard how medical staff felt moving Ms Allan from ward 33 to ward 10 – where patients are prepared for discharge – was inappropriate because they felt she needed more comprehensive care.
Asked if her case should have been escalated, he said: “Yes, that’s correct.
“That should have occurred and the most appropriate time for that was when she transferred to the ward (10) when the staff realised she was unwell.
“There was no clinical judgement, I believe, when she arrived on ward 10.
“It’s difficult to be certain if there was any judgement by staff on the other ward (33).”
He added Ms Allan reported a pain score of 10 out of 10 later in her stay, having previously reported no higher that five out of 10.
He said this should have raised alarm and a medical review, along with an urgent blood test, may have uncovered Ms Allan’s deteriorating condition.
Inquiry continues
An FAI can be held when a death is sudden, suspicious, unexpected, accidental or unexplained or which have occurred in circumstances that may give rise to public concern.
The inquiry will continue next month.
