Inquest adjourned as family seeks answers

AN inquest into the death of an elderly woman who died in hospital has been adjourned because her family and friends believe there are still unanswered questions.


Irene Stott (86), of Bainburgh Close, Abbeyhills, died in May 2013, after spending six weeks at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

The cause of death was officially aspiration pneumonia — food or liquid in the lungs — caused by the problems associated with a stroke. Mrs Stott had been suffering from dementia and had also had a hip operation the previous year, as well as a hiatus hernia.

The cause of death is disputed by her son and carer, Philip, who believes more could have been done by the Pennine Acute Hospital Trust to save his mother.

He believes his mother had suffered a stroke or mini stroke on the morning of her death, but didn’t receive adequate care.

But senior coroner Simon Nelson dismissed suggestions of negligence at the Heywood inquest yesterday.

Dr Joseph Vassallo, a stroke physician, said Mrs Stott’s condition had deteriorated and her prognosis was “very poor”.

“We did discuss with Mr Stott the withdrawal of care,” Dr Vassallo said. “We were just prolonging the inevitable. He kept insisting he wanted active treatment. We do see people improve so we complied with his wishes. She was dying. In my opinion, there was nothing else we could do.”

Mr Nelson said he was considering a conclusion of natural causes, with no indication that there were gross failings on the part of the trust.

The inquest was adjourned for Mr Stott to submit further evidence.