Family demand answers after gastric bypass death
THE family of a woman who died following a gastric bypass are demanding answers into her death.
Suzanne Wrighton, aged 59, died on May 30 2008, less than 36 hours after having three operations at The Regency Hospital in Macclesfield.
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Mrs Wrighton, who lived in Moreton Road, Crewe, decided to go in for the surgery paid for by the NHS at the private hospital because she was overweight and suffered from back pain.
Her husband Brian, aged 64, yesterday told an inquest into her death at Macclesfield Town Hall that he and his wife had been to two consultations prior to the operation and had been told there was a one per cent chance of fatality.
He said: "Suzanne had suffered from back pain for a long time. It started after she had a car crash in 1987. She had two operations on her spine but she still suffered from pain and she put on weight because she couldn't exercise.
"She decided on a bypass rather than a band. We know there is a risk with any operation but the risks we were told about weren't enough to worry her."
The inquest heard that after the first operation on May 28 Mrs Wrighton was in severe pain.
The following day consultant surgeon William Brough decided to perform a second operation to find out what the problem was but it wasn't until May 30 after the third operation that he found Mrs Wrighton had suffered a bleed.
Mr Brough said: "This was a rare complication that could not have been seen beforehand.
"It is the first time I have heard of a bleed from the staple line."
Mr Brough said that since Mrs Wrighton's death the hospital has altered protocol to ensure that all patients no matter how ill they are will have blood tests the day after the operation.
Mrs Wrighton died from adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), which is when the lungs become filled with fluid and can't function properly.
Deputy coroner for Cheshire Janet Napier recorded a verdict of death due to complications following an operation for weight loss.
After the inquest Mr Wrighton, said: "We will be speaking to our solicitor and launching a complaint against the hospital. We are not happy with how Suzanne was treated. She was screaming out in pain most of the time she was in the hospital."
Suzanne's daughter-in-law Tammy Buxton, from Burslem, said: "The inquest hasn't really answered our questions.
"We still don't know why they failed to find the bleed until after the third operation.
"We have got to the bottom of the reason why she died. We don't want other families to go through the same pain and trauma we've been through."
3 Comments
by Deborah Lochrie, Blackpool
Saturday, April 04 2009, 12:57AM
“My condolences go to Suzanne's family at this time. I too have recently gone through a gastric bypass operation. In a weird coincidence I broke my leg in three places in 1987 and have suffered with my ankle over recent years culminating with me being informed I would need an ankle replacement operation. They also informed me that the operation could not go ahead until I have lost a substantial amount of weight. I think I have been extremely fortunate in my experience and wanted to give another side to the operation and consequences of such surgery. I had my operation at the Spire hospital in Manchester but on the NHS. My Specialist and anesthetist were wonderful, explained everything thoroughly and the nursing staff were all stars. The day after my operation I had extreme pain in my back following a trip to Xray they discovered I had a potential leak. At the time I could hardly get my breath while down in Xray due to the pain, I can honestly say I have never felt pain like it. My Specialist thought it prudent to take me back down to investigate the issue and within 30 minutes of him visiting me I was wheeled back down to theatre. I had a staple that had come out from my stomach and I know how lucky I am that this was discovered in time. I must stress the care I had was second to none. I was fully informed of the risks before both operations but also aware that the potential improvement in the quality of my life as a result of the operation made it worth while. Without the operation both the quality of my life and my life expectancy would have been reduced. Since my operation I have had time to think about everything and I must admit I had not fully considered the impact on my family. Although fully supportive of my decision it was my husband and family who had the worry while I was in theatre on both occasions and during my aftercare. I have recently been back for my three month check up and everything is going very well. I have lost just over five stone in weight since I began this journey last November. To conclude my thoughts and best wishes go out to the family and I hope you receive the answers you search. I hope this comment has not offended but I felt it important you heard a positive response to this surgery. Kind regards, Deborah”
by Ian Syme, Milton
Tuesday, March 31 2009, 8:26PM
“My heart goes out to this ladies family and friends.
The hospital concerned is I believe part of the "Spire group" of hospitals who have had problems since with this surgery including patients having to be sent to nhs hospitals post surgery to get intensive care. Is it this "Spire group" who were being considered by one of our local pcts (nhs north staffs) to do bariatric surgery on its patients who were very unwilling to go to Walsall or Heart of England in Birmingham.
Local patients have a safe extremely efficient surgeon and team prepared and willing to perform bariatric surgery in a safe nhs facility ie at University Hospital North Staffs. The Regency in Maccesfield is not a nhs hospital. So maybe the question needs to be asked why this lady was sent to an independent hospital (nearly all of whom dont have crash/intensive care facilities) when within a few miles a safe service at University Hospital North Staffs is offered. The purchasers of bariatric care for this lady or those who advised her to use The Regency should be held to account. Of course that wont bring her back. Condolences to her family.
Ian Syme (coordinator North Staffs Healthwatch)”
by alan kaminski, abbey hulton
Tuesday, March 31 2009, 7:11PM
“this loss is very sad for the family concerned,this lady chose to have serious surgery to help to cure her weight problem., Stoke p.c.t now sends people for this surgery to u.h.n.s. ,whereas, n.s pct tells our obesity support group that it is still looking at this site, for one of its" designated providers". or this surgery. It's other choices are Walsall hospital and Heart of England hospital in Birmingham. N.s p.c.t is one of only two areas in the country that choose to "designate" hospitals for this surgery, and can not supply any quality or safety audits of the services they commission. people are faced with a terrible choice; either suffer with their condition and it'sco- problems, or follow the unsafe pathway they are told to follow , or pay for private surgery on the open market.. This hospital is a large private one, part of much larger group, who have profit as a major factor in their balance sheets.
This lady should have been able to have first class care at a local hospital of her choice, for her clinical needs, as the N.H.S. promises in it's new constitution.”