Coroner Identifies Hospital Failures in Woman's Death After Weight-Loss Surgery

Susan Evans' death in August 2023 was linked to lapses in post-operative care at Queen Alexandra Hospital, including failure to follow protocols during a junior doctors' strike.

• Susan Evans, 55, underwent gastric bypass surgery on July 11, 2023, and initially recovered well before experiencing complications two days later.
• Hospital staff failed to follow post-operative care policies, including ensuring she was seen by a bariatric specialist or senior doctor after reporting abdominal pain.
• Evans was discharged from the hospital on July 13, 2023, still in pain, and was readmitted two days later with severe abdominal sepsis caused by an anastomotic leak.
• Despite undergoing two additional surgeries, her condition deteriorated, and she died on August 12, 2023, with the coroner citing hospital failures as contributing to her death.
• The NHS Trust has until February 7, 2025, to respond to the coroner's report, which highlights systemic issues in staffing and adherence to care protocols.

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