Body stays in mortuary until family 'get answers'
BBCA brother and sister whose father has been in a hospital mortuary for 18 months say he died because of medical mistakes and are prepared to leave his body there until they "get answers".
Bill Trotter, 73, from Carlisle, Cumbria, was admitted to Cumberland Infirmary in May 2024 but died two months later after falling into a diabetic coma.
His children, Mike and Kelly Trotter, allege he was misdiagnosed repeatedly and believe his body, being held in Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), could provide evidence.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust said a "thorough and transparent review" found "there were no failings in care that contributed to Mr Trotter's death".
Bill Trotter's treatment began when he was admitted to the hospital on 8 May with a toe infection and staff performed a procedure called angioplasty which aims to improve blood flow.
He was sent home with antibiotics but readmitted on the 26 May and diagnosed with gangrene. The decision was then taken to amputate below his right knee, a procedure which took place on 2 June.
On 28 June, the family were told Mr Trotter had a condition called Fournier's gangrene and nothing more could be done.
At this time the family also became aware of a large abscess which had developed on his bottom. The siblings also allege that, after his death, they were told by one of the doctors the surgery on his leg may not have been necessary.
SuppliedMike and Kelly Trotter, 42, also claim their father was left for 16 days after it was noted he had a bladder issue and before having a catheter fitted, when it was found he had retained almost a litre of urine.
"He was screaming in pain, it was just horrendous," Mike Trotter, 48, said.
They also allege a failure to adequately treat their father's initial toe infection, which they say led to the unnecessary amputation of his leg. They say they also had to purchase their own wound care gel because the hospital said it had none left.
When Bill Trotter slipped into a diabetic coma they say his blood sugar level was inaccurately recorded as 2.3mmol/l when it was actually 1.2mmol/l and this was not reported, as is required when it falls below 2.2mmol/l , to the National Diabetes Inpatient Safety Audit (NDISA) until much later.
They also say he was given insulin by another doctor after the hospital's diabetes team had taken him off it.
When asked, North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust did not provide a specific response to these allegations but said an investigation found no failings of care had contributed to Mr Trotter's death.
SuppliedThe family want an inquest, but the senior coroner for Cumbria, Kirsty Gomersal, informed them she was satisfied the case did not meet the threshold outlined in the Coroners and Justice Act which requires coroners to investigate deaths which may be violent, unnatural or of an unknown cause.
Mike Trotter said: "You leave someone for days with a full bladder, they have a huge hole in their backside they didn't have when they went into hospital, they get given an amount of insulin not recommended by the diabetic team."
"How is that natural causes?"
"Everyone makes mistakes, but you have to put your hands up and they've tried to hide those mistakes."
SuppliedCarlisle Labour MP Julie Minns said she had met the family on a number of occasions and had the "greatest sympathy" for their loss.
She said new legislation dubbed the Hillsborough Law after the football stadium disaster in which 97 Liverpool fans died, will make it easier for people like the Trotter family to "get the answers they're looking for".
"Having that duty of candor, will give families the confidence that, if they're not being shared information, then the people who are not sharing it are at risk of prosecution," she said.
Bill Trotter's body was transferred to Newcastle's RVI's mortuary nine days after his death at the request and expense of the family.
His children said they would not move him from there "until we get answers, even if that's years".
"It's not about the money, we just want the right cause of death for our dad, that's the key," Mike Trotter said.
His sister said: "He was failed, a hundred percent he was failed, and I think he'd be proud of us for what we're doing.
"Mum says he would be anyhow and that's nice for us to hear."
The North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said it acknowledged the concerns raised by the family.
"The trust has completed a full complaint investigation and the findings have been shared in writing with the family addressing all of their points of concern," a spokesperson said.
"Our investigation found that there were no failings in care that contributed to Mr Trotter's death and we are aware other agencies have also examined aspects of this case.
"As the trust's investigation is now concluded, the family has been advised that any further concerns should be directed to the public health ombudsman."
Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the RVI, said it was not able to comment due to the particular care needed relating to those in the care of its mortuary.
