Patient 'only receiving paracetamol' for fractures

A coroner has expressed concerns after a 58-year-old was "found lying in soiled dressings" with the pressure sore that contributed to his death left "exposed".

David Dugdale died in May 2024 after a stay at Eastbourne District General Hospital then Conquest Hospital in Hastings, both run by East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.

Dugdale was "only receiving oral paracetamol" while in Eastbourne, despite having "a category two pressure sore and bilateral hip fractures", assistant coroner Rachel Redman said.

The trust said it had "already made some changes" and would "continue to work on a detailed action plan".

"We are committed to ensuring that the care we provide to patients is safe, effective and compassionate and wish to offer our sincere condolences to Mr Dugdale's family for their loss," a spokesperson said.

In a prevention of future deaths report sent to the trust, Redman said Dugdale lost almost 30kg in his four months in hospital after having been admitted with pneumonia and gastrointestinal bleeding on 20 January 2024.

Dugdale fell on 8 February in Eastbourne District General Hospital and was diagnosed with fractures nearly two weeks later.

He was then transferred to Conquest Hospital and underwent surgery three times.

Redman wrote that it was "not until ambulance crew raised their concerns" that Dugdale received "increased and more appropriate pain relief".

"His carers repeatedly tried to advise nursing staff that he was in pain, but their concerns were not listened to nor acted upon," she said.

He was "not eating nor drinking" while at Eastbourne but "there seemed to be little nutritional support available".

The East Sussex assistant coroner wrote that Dugdale "was often found lying in soiled dressings with his pressure sore exposed and in pain by his visiting carers".

The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion that Dugdale was admitted to hospital with pneumonia and gastrointestinal bleeding and had undetected bilateral hip fractures.

She continued that he deteriorated after surgery "owing to his co-morbidities" and a pressure sore that had deteriorated to "category four".

In her report, Redman wrote: "In spite of receiving a statement from [the trust] regarding improvements in nursing care my concerns were not allayed."

East Sussex Healthcare said it would share its plan to address the issues raised in the report with the coroner's office "in the coming weeks".

The trust has been told it needs to respond to the report by 5 March.

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