Inquest Reveals Missed Red Flags in Teacher's Fatal Blood Clot Diagnosis
Dena Collins, 28, died in 2023 from an undiagnosed blood clot hours after being discharged from a London hospital, with a report highlighting critical lapses in her care.
- Dena Collins, a primary school teacher, died of a heart attack caused by an undiagnosed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) 16 hours after being discharged from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Greenwich, London, in January 2023.
- An NHS report identified multiple missed red flags in her care, including shortness of breath, leg pain, and her use of a combined oral contraceptive pill, all of which are risk factors for blood clots.
- Despite a positive D-dimer test indicating the possibility of a clot, Collins was diagnosed with a possible ruptured cyst and sent home without anticoagulant treatment, with plans for a follow-up scan the next day.
- Her family believes her death was preventable and has criticized the care she received, emphasizing that she repeatedly voiced concerns about having a blood clot, which were not adequately addressed.
- An inquest into her death has been adjourned until June 2025 due to new evidence, leaving her family frustrated after two years of seeking answers.
The Independent 
The Telegraph 