Rapid review undertaken into A&E death, says MP

An urgent review into the death of a man who had collapsed on a hospital waiting room floor has been completed, an MP has said.

Thomas Casey, 34, died after going to accident and emergency (A&E) at Broomfield Hospital in Essex on 16 January.

His son said staff did not believe his father was suffering from a heart attack and claimed they offered him paracetamol.

Hospital management have offered their condolences to Casey's family and Marie Goldman, the MP for Chelmsford, met with NHS bosses there on Friday.

The Liberal Democrat politician said hospital management also told her that an independent investigation was being carried out into the incident, led by another hospital not involved in Casey's care.

"There's no point just pointing the finger of blame if we don't learn the lessons and move forward," she told the BBC.

Goldman explained that short-staffing, an overwhelmed A&E department, and the long-term impact on staff from the Covid-19 pandemic had created a "perfect storm".

"I think there's a lot that needs to be done to support those staff and I'm really keen to work with the trust to make sure that happens," she said, adding that she had been contacted by several members of NHS staff raising concerns.

Goldman says she was also told that Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust - which runs Broomfield - is inviting Casey's family to take part in the independent investigation.

"I know that they've looked at CCTV footage, I know that they've looked at reports from… medical tests that were done, and will be learning the lessons from that, so there's a lot of work to do," she said.

Casey's son - also called Thomas - has said his father lay on the floor of the A&E waiting room clutching his chest in pain.

Thomas Jr and two eyewitnesses told the BBC their requests that a screen be positioned, to shield his father from view, were initially refused.

The 19-year-old said CPR was administered by medical staff on the waiting room floor, before his father was moved through double-doors to another room, where he was declared dead soon afterwards.

Thomas Jr feels both he and his father were discriminated against because of their traveller heritage.

On Thursday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC he was "extremely sorry" to learn of Casey's death.

"I'm very happy for the BBC to pass me the case so I can look into it," he said.

Goldman said she had not been contacted by Streeting or the Department of Health and Social Care [DHSC], and called for more government help.

The local MP for North West Essex - Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch - said in a statement that her office had been in contact with MSEFT, and offered her condolences to his family.

Christine Blanshard, chief medical officer at the trust, said it was in "close contact with the family to discuss their concerns".

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