Nicola Tweedy, 54, died two days after she had her varicose veins operated on at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital. The death of a woman days after she underwent surgery on her varicose veins could have been prevented, her husband has today claimed. Nicola Tweedy, 54, had the operation at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in March last year and was discharged the same evening. But two days later the mother-of-two was found apparently asleep in her chair at the family home in Pulham Market, Norfolk. When her family failed to rouse the classroom assistant, they called an ambulance. Despite the best efforts of the paramedics called, Mrs Tweedy died. A post-mortem examination later confirmed she had suffered a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot which reached her lungs. An inquest heard staff at the hospital failed to ensure Mrs Tweedy was fully aware of the risk of suffering a blood clot during the operation, because of an 'oversight'. Her husband, Chris Tweedy, 53, said he is now considering taking civil action against the hospital, claiming he believes his wife's death could have been prevented. The postman, who lives with the couple's two children, said: 'They were required to avoid harming her and, tragically, in my opinion, they did not.' South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon said the case was a 'tragedy' which should prompt improvements. He added: 'It is clear to me that more could and should have been done to mitigate the risks of what was deemed to be appropriate surgery for Mrs Tweedy, most crucially to place Mrs Tweedy and her family in a position to make a fully informed choice about whether to proceed with the operation. 'Any hospital treating over half a million people each year will occasionally not do everything perfectly. People are only human. 'But in the post-Mid Staffs world, when things have been less than perfect, patients and families now expect - and frankly are entitled to expect - much greater openness.' Consultant vascular surgeon Robert Brightwell admitted to the inquest in Norwich that a thrombosis risk assessment had not been completed. That meant the 54-year-old was not fully informed about the dangers of the surgery, including the increased risk for those with a high body mass index. Nurse Susan Brown said she accepted it was 'an oversight' and that a checklist had not been completed on the patient's discharge notes. Coroner Jacqueline Lake gave a narrative conclusion that Mrs Tweedy died following a 'rare but recognised' risk of surgery, adding she will write a report so that future deaths may be prevented. She said she was satisfied that the operation itself had been conducted appropriately. But raised concerns that Mrs Tweedy had not been given the correct leaflets on her care. Speaking after the inquest Mr Tweedy said his family's lives had been 'damaged beyond repair'. He described his wife and his 'happy, smiling soul-mate'. Mrs Tweedy's husband, Chris, 53, who lives with the couple's two children, said he believes his wife's death could have been prevented. A post mortem examination revealed Mrs Tweedy died of a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in her lungs. He added: 'Nicky was a happy, smiling, laughing, easy going, fun loving person all of her life. 'She was someone who loved, cared for, guided, supported and helped so many people throughout her life. 'In my opinion, the Norfolk and Norwich  would have done nothing to learn the lessons from my wife's death, and to materially revise their protocols and procedures, which they have subsequently done, without my formal complaint and, even after that, without the very considerable pressure I have placed upon them, both personally and through other organisations. 'In the United Kingdom thousands of patients die a preventable death every year from hospital acquired venous thromboembolism. 'Many thousands more have to live with the life changing consequences. 'That, in my opinion, is a national scandal.' A hospital spokeswoman expressed sympathy to the Tweedy family. She added: 'Mrs Tweedy died of a rare but recognised complication of surgery, estimated to occur in approximately 0.01 per cent of cases, in other words one in 10,000 patients. 'While it is possible to reduce the risks of surgery they can never be eliminated entirely. 'The trust commissioned an independent review in order to identify any ways in which we could improve our services. 'Once we have the coroner's recommendations we will review these to identify any further opportunities for improvement.' Lawyer Sharon Allison, of Ashton KCJ which represented the family, said: 'My client and his family are understandably devastated beyond words at their loss. 'They have many questions relating to the hospital's protocols concerning blood clotting risks.' An inquest heard how a pre-surgery risk assessment was not completed, meaning Mrs Tweedy was not fully aware of the risks of suffering a blood clot during her operation.
Here is a summary of the highlights for this article:
Nicola Tweedy had an operation on her varicose veins last March.
Two days after leaving the Norfolk and Norwich hospital she died.
Post-mortem examination showed she suffered a pulmonary embolism.
Inquest heard mother-of-two had not been made fully aware of the risks of developing a blood clot as a result of the surgery.
Husband Chris Tweedy said he believes her death could've been prevented.
Hospital spokesman said risks of surgery 'can never be eliminated'
Nicola Tweedy, 54, dog två dagar efter att hon låtit operera sina åderbråck på Norfolk- och Norwichsjukhuset. Döden av en kvinna dagar efter att hon genomgick en operation på hennes åderbråck kunde ha förhindrats, har hennes man idag hävdat. Nicola Tweedy, 54 år, opererades på Norfolks och Norwich universitetssjukhus i mars förra året och fick avsked samma kväll. Men två dagar senare hittades tvåbarnsmamman tydligen sovande i sin stol på familjens hem i Pulham Market, Norfolk. När hennes familj misslyckades med att väcka klassrumsassistenten ringde de efter ambulans. Trots de bästa ansträngningar som sjukvårdarna gjorde dog fru Tweedy. En obduktion bekräftade senare att hon hade drabbats av lungemboli, en blodpropp som nådde lungorna. En förfrågan som hörde personalen på sjukhuset misslyckades med att se till att Tweedy var fullt medveten om risken för att drabbas av en blodpropp under operationen, på grund av en ”översikt”. Hennes man, Chris Tweedy, 53, sa att han nu överväger att vidta civila åtgärder mot sjukhuset, och hävdar att han tror att hans frus död kunde ha förhindrats. Brevbäraren, som bor hos parets två barn, sade: 'De var tvungna att undvika att skada henne och, tragiskt nog, enligt min mening, gjorde de inte det.' South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon sade fallet var en "tragedy" som bör föranleda förbättringar. Han tillade: ”Det är uppenbart för mig att mer kunde och borde ha gjorts för att minska riskerna med vad som ansågs vara lämplig kirurgi för fru Tweedy, och det är av avgörande betydelse att försätta fru Tweedy och hennes familj i en situation där de kan göra ett välinformerat val om huruvida de ska fortsätta operationen. "Varje sjukhus som behandlar över en halv miljon människor varje år kommer ibland inte att göra allt perfekt. Människor är bara människor. "Men i post-Mid Staffs-världen, när saker och ting har varit mindre perfekta, förväntar sig nu patienter och familjer - och har uppriktigt sagt rätt att förvänta sig - mycket större öppenhet." Konsult kärlkirurg Robert Brightwell medgav på förhöret i Norwich att en trombosriskbedömning inte hade slutförts. Det innebar att 54-åringen inte var helt informerad om riskerna med operationen, inklusive den ökade risken för dem med ett högt BMI. Syster Susan Brown sa att hon accepterade att det var en "tillsyn" och att en checklista inte hade färdigställts på patientens utskrivningssedlar. Rättsläkaren Jacqueline Lake gav en berättande slutsats om att fru Tweedy avled efter en "sällsynt men erkänd" risk för operation, och tillade att hon kommer att skriva en rapport så att framtida dödsfall kan förhindras. Hon sade att hon var nöjd med att själva operationen hade genomförts på lämpligt sätt. Men det väckte farhågor om att fru Tweedy inte hade fått de rätta flygbladen om sin vård. Efter förhöret sa mr Tweedy att hans familjs liv hade blivit ”skadade utan reparation”. Han beskrev sin fru och sin 'glada, leende själsfrände'. Fru Tweedys man, Chris, 53, som bor hos parets två barn, sade sig tro att hans hustrus död kunde ha förhindrats. En obduktion visade att mrs Tweedy dog av en lungemboli, en blodpropp i lungorna. Han tillade: 'Nicky var en glad, leende, skrattande, lättsam, rolig kärleksfull person hela sitt liv. "Hon var någon som älskade, vårdade, vägledde, stödde och hjälpte så många människor genom hela hennes liv. "Enligt min mening skulle Norfolk och Norwich inte ha gjort någonting för att lära sig läxan från min frus död, och för att i materiellt avseende revidera sina protokoll och förfaranden, vilket de senare har gjort, utan mitt formella klagomål och, även efter det, utan de mycket stora påtryckningar jag har lagt på dem, både personligen och genom andra organisationer. "I Storbritannien dör tusentals patienter varje år en död som kan förebyggas varje år från sjukhus och som fått venös tromboembolism. "Många tusen till måste leva med livet förändrade konsekvenser. ”Det är enligt min mening en nationell skandal.” En sjukhustaleskvinna uttryckte sympati för familjen Tweedy. Hon tillade: "Fru Tweedy dog av en sällsynt men erkänd komplikation av kirurgi, som beräknas inträffa i ungefär 0,01 procent av fallen, med andra ord en av 10 000 patienter. "Även om det är möjligt att minska riskerna för kirurgi kan de aldrig elimineras helt. "Förtroendet har beställt en oberoende granskning för att identifiera hur vi kan förbättra våra tjänster. "När vi har rättsläkarens rekommendationer kommer vi att se över dessa för att identifiera ytterligare möjligheter till förbättringar." Advokat Sharon Allison från Ashton KCJ, som representerade familjen, sade: ”Min klient och hans familj är förståeligt nog förtvivlade över sin förlust. "De har många frågor som rör sjukhusets protokoll om koaguleringsrisker." En förfrågan fick höra att en riskbedömning före operationen inte var avslutad, vilket innebar att Tweedy inte var fullt medveten om riskerna med att drabbas av en blodpropp under sin operation. Här är en sammanfattning av höjdpunkterna för denna artikel:
Nicola Tweedy, 54, died two days after she had her varicose veins operated on at Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. The death of a woman days after she underwent surgery on her varicose veins could have been prevented, her husband has claimed today. Nicola Tweedy, 54, was operated on at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital last March and was discharged that night. But two days later, the mother of two was apparently found sleeping in her chair at the family home in Pulham Market, Norfolk. When her family failed to wake up the classroom assistant, they called for an ambulance. Despite the best efforts of the paramedics, Mrs. Tweedy died. An autopsy later confirmed that she had suffered from pulmonary embolism, a blood clot that reached the lungs. A request that heard the hospital staff failed to ensure that Tweedy was fully aware of the risk of developing a blood clot during the operation, due to a ‘overview’. Her husband, Chris Tweedy, 53, said he is now considering taking civilian action against the hospital, claiming he believes his wife's death could have been prevented. The postman, who lives with the couple's two children, said: 'They had to avoid harming her and, tragically, in my opinion, they did not.' South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon said the case was a "tragedy" that should prompt improvements. He added: "It is obvious to me that more could and should have been done to reduce the risks of what was considered appropriate surgery for Mrs Tweedy, and it is crucial to put Mrs Tweedy and her family in a situation where they can make a well-informed choice as to whether to continue the operation. "Every hospital that treats over half a million people every year will sometimes not make everything perfect. People are just people. "But in the post-Mid Staffs world, when things have been less perfect, patients and families now expect - and frankly have the right to expect - much greater transparency." Consultant vascular surgeon Robert Brightwell admitted at the Norwich hearing that a thrombosis risk assessment had not been completed. This meant that the 54-year-old was not fully informed about the risks of the operation, including the increased risk to those with a high BMI. Sister Susan Brown said she accepted that it was a "supervision" and that a checklist had not been completed on the patient's discharge notes. The coroner Jacqueline Lake gave a narrative conclusion that Mrs. Tweedy died after a "rare but recognized" risk of surgery, adding that she will write a report so that future deaths can be prevented. She said she was pleased that the operation itself had been carried out appropriately. But it raised concerns that Mrs. Tweedy had not received the right leaflets about her care. After the hearing, Mr. Tweedy said that his family's life had been ‘damaged without repair'. He described his wife and his 'happy, smiling soul mate'. Mrs. Tweedy's husband, Chris, 53, who lives with the couple's two children, said she believed that his wife's death could have been prevented. An autopsy showed that Mrs. Tweedy died of a pulmonary embolism, a blood clot in her lungs. He added: 'Nicky was a happy, smiling, laughing, lighthearted, funny loving person all his life. "She was someone who loved, cared for, guided, supported and helped so many people throughout her life. "In my opinion Norfolk and Norwich would have done nothing to learn the lesson from my wife's death, and to revise materially their protocols and procedures, as they have done later, without my formal complaint and, even after that, without the very great pressure I have put on them, both personally and through other organizations. "In the UK, thousands of patients die each year of a preventable death every year from hospitals who have experienced venous thromboembolism. "Many thousands more must live with life changing consequences. ‘It is, in my opinion, a national scandal.’ A hospital spokeswoman expressed sympathy for the Tweedy family. She added: "Mrs. Tweedy died of a rare but recognized complication of surgery, which is estimated to occur in approximately 0.01% of cases, in other words one of 10,000 patients. "Although it is possible to reduce the risks of surgery, they can never be completely eliminated. "Confidence has ordered an independent review to identify how we can improve our services. "When we have the coroner's recommendations, we will review these to identify further opportunities for improvement." Lawyer Sharon Allison of Ashton KCJ, representing the family, said: “My client and his family are understandably despairing over their loss. "They have many questions related to hospital protocol on coagulation risks." A request was told that a risk assessment prior to surgery was not completed, meaning that Tweedy was not fully aware of the risks of developing a blood clot during his operation. Here is a summary of the highlights of this article:
Nicola Tweedy opererades på sina åderbråck i mars. Två dagar efter att hon lämnat Norfolk- och Norwichsjukhuset avled hon. En obduktion visade att hon led av lungemboli. Inquirement hörde att mamma-av-två inte hade gjorts fullt medveten om riskerna med att utveckla en blodpropp till följd av operationen. Maken Chris Tweedy sa att han tror att hennes död kunde ha förhindrats. Sjukhusets talesman sa att risken för operation "kan aldrig elimineras"
Nicola Tweedy had surgery on his varicose veins in March. Two days after she left Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, she died. An autopsy showed that she suffered from pulmonary embolism. Inquirement heard that mother-of-two had not been made fully aware of the risks of developing a blood clot as a result of the surgery. Husband Chris Tweedy said he believes her death could have been prevented. Hospital spokesman said the risk of surgery "can never be eliminated"