NHS bosses cleared over pensioner's death at ERI

HEALTH chiefs have been cleared of blame over the death of an elderly woman who waited days for a hip replacement in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Isobel Grant, 81, waited five days for an operation, during which time she fell out of bed and contracted hospital infections.

She developed blood clots shortly after the hip replacement and was taken into intensive care, but died three weeks later.

Her widower, Eric Grant, told a fatal accident inquiry he believed the delay was a major factor in her death in November, 2005.

But Sheriff Noel McPartlin said the hospital was not at fault.

NHS Lothian said the hospital was now meeting the Scottish Government target of carrying out 98 per cent of hip operations within 24 hours.

Mr Grant, of Orchard Brae Avenue, told the Evening News he now considered the painful matter to be "closed".

In a written ruling, Sheriff McPartlin said that Mrs Grant's family were "not kept well informed" about her treatment. As a result, they did not have the opportunity to consider trying to have her transferred elsewhere for an operation.

During the inquiry, consultant Ben Clift, a leading orthopaedic surgeon, said a quicker operation would have reduced the risk of her death.

But Sheriff McPartlin said he had considered whether the delay was a failure by doctors to take a "reasonable precaution". He added that in an "ideal world" Mrs Grant would not have waited but "in reality" the number of patients and limited resources made "some delay unavoidable".

Mrs Grant's case had been reviewed by doctors who found no clinical justification for making her hip operation a priority above other patients.

Sheriff McPartlin said the lack of theatre resources was "clearly a defect in the system" which resulted in an "unacceptable delay" but he was unable to determine whether it contributed to her death.

Studies have found that 30 per cent of hip fracture patients die within a year of being operated upon.

The sheriff also ruled that there was no evidence that Mrs Grant's fall contributed to her death, although it was "no doubt traumatic for her and distressing for her family".

Mr Grant, 83, said: "The inquiry only probed the cause of my wife's death. It didn't make any recommendations regarding hospital procedures."

He added: "As far as I'm concerned the matter is now closed."

Mr Grant gave evidence to last month's inquiry along with one of the couple's two daughters, Lindsey Edwards.

The inquiry also heard from consultant lead clinician John Keating, who said at the time the hospital was only managing to treat 51 per cent of its hip fracture patients within the target time of 48 hours of arrival.

Dr Charles Swainson, medical director, NHS Lothian, said: "Our thoughts are with Mrs Grant's family at this time and we hope the sheriff's findings assure them that Mrs Grant received the best possible care we could give her."

He said any delay was "always regrettable", but added that NHS Lothian was now meeting hip replacement targets. He added: "The sheriff also highlighted concerns about communication and lessons have been learned by staff and shared with colleagues throughout NHS Lothian."