Patient, 42, who TWICE had his heart operation cancelled found dead on hospital toilet

  • First slot lost after another patient's treatment overran and second cancelled because of lack of beds
By Chris Parsons
Last updated at 4:05 PM on 23rd August 2011

A heart bypass patient died in a hospital toilet after his surgery was cancelled twice, an inquest has heard.
Richard Thompson, 42, was due to undergo the operation at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, but was delayed because a previous patient's treatment overran.
Six days after Mr Thompson's surgery slot was cancelled for a second time due to lack of beds, he was found dead in a ward toilet after suffering a fatal heart arrhythmia.
Tragic: Mr Thompson died six days after his second surgery cancellation at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth
Tragic: Mr Thompson died six days after his second surgery cancellation at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth
An inquest in Plymouth, Devon was told that lifelong bachelor Mr Thompson may not have died if the procedure had gone ahead at the hospital as planned.
 

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Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr Clinton Lloyd told the hearing: 'Clearly it is unacceptable to be in a position where surgery has been cancelled twice.
'It is not a guarantee but there would have been slightly less chance of a heart arrhythmia after surgery.
'In an ideal world everyone would be operated on the next day after diagnoses but unfortunately the NHS is not like that. We have to work with the resources available.'

'It is unacceptable to be in a position where surgery is cancelled twice'
Shop manager Mr Thompson, of Helston, Cornwall, visited his GP on February 26 last year complaining of swollen legs - a symptom of cardiac problems.
He was diagnosed with ischemic heart disease, which causes reduced blood supply, after an ECG and cardiogram, and was scheduled for treatment.
On October 29 he was admitted to Derriford Hospital, where he was due to undergo two coronary artery bypass grafts.
This was postponed after previous treatment to a private patient overran.
Mr Thompson returned on November 4, only to be told the operation was being put back to the following day due to a lack of beds on the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.
He was found dead in a chair in a toilet on the ward by a nurse at 8.40pm that night.
The cause of death was given as damage to the left ventricle caused by a lack of oxygen reaching the heart.
Dr Peter McNorton, ICU consultant and clinical director who led an investigation into hospital procedures, said: 'There are three intensive care units in Derriford Hospital, Neuro, Cardiac and General.
'On that day there were seven potential beds free in other wards and I found that although the cardiac ICU team had considered this option perhaps there needed to be a proper mechanism in place for rearranging people.
'Procedures have changed so that the cardiac ward is now part of the twice daily ward evaluation, whereas it was not before.
'I have also ordered a clarification on the priority of patients who have faced cancellations, as while it was custom and practice for them to be seen as soon as possible that has now been formally written down.'
Recording a verdict of natural causes, deputy coroner for Plymouth Dr Andrew Cox said he would have ordered an investigation had one not already been carried out.
He added: 'He (Mr Thompson) did not suffer a heart attack but an arrhythmia, which is a disturbance in the function of the heart.
'There is very little evidence as to what extent this would have been prevented if he had had the operation before.
'It was undesirable that he suffered two cancellations.
'But we are not going to be in a position to prevent all deaths like Richard's. Cancellations will happen from time to time.'
Mr Thompson's family declined to comment after the hearing on Monday