3 docs miss stroke & say mother is depressed after losing her baby - mother dies - UK

[Guest guest]

Another example of why a full medical physical should always be performed on

someone before a psychiatric diagnosis.

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=wrong-wrong-wrong & method=full & objectid=\

20291548 & siteid=93463-name_page.html

20 January 2008

WRONG WRONG WRONG

EXCLUSIVE 3 docs miss stroke & say Linsey is depressed after losing her baby..

Nurses are even sent to take her to a psychiatric hospital After 11 DAYS' hell

she dies in hospital following a brain op Appalling tragedy of mum of two killed

by medical blunders

By Martyn Halle

Heartbroken Mark Hibberd is mourning his wife Linsey after a shocking series of

hopelessly WRONG diagnoses by a procession of doctors.

Linsey, 29, was struck down with all the classic symptoms of a stroke a few days

after her eagerly-awaited third baby was still-born.

But a hospital casualty doctor WRONGLY diagnosed her slurred speech and numbness

on one side of her body as grief caused by loss of the child.

As the symptoms worsened Mark, 39, called his GPs but two doctors WRONGLY

diagnosed depression - and one even sent two nurses to take Linsey to

psychiatric hospital.

Finally a psychiatrist with no specialist training in brain haemorrhage took one

look at the semi-paralysed mum and stated the blindingly obvious: SHE'S HAD A

STROKE.

By then it was too late. Mum-oftwo Linsey died from a massive blood clot on the

brain just 11 days after losing her baby.

Unusually, the hospital where the first wrong diagnosis was made paid for last

week's funeral without being asked.

But Mark, who wept bitterly as his wife's coffin was lowered into the same grave

as their still-born son's, told The People: " I can't believe that I've lost the

baby and my wife one after another.

" There was nothing that could be done for the baby - he just came too soon at 28

weeks - but there was every chance that Linsey could have survived.

" I shall never forgive the Health Service for letting her down so badly. "

Mark, who is to sue his local NHS trust as he struggles to bring up sons Mason,

two, and MacKenzie, three, is still bewildered at how medical professionals

missed the tell-tale signs of a stroke - the third biggest killer of Britons

every year.

Speaking a week after The People exposed the alarming number of deaths caused by

medical blunders, he said: " You see them getting symptoms like that right all

the time on TV medical dramas.

" But here they simply ignored what was staring them in the face. "

The couple, married for eight years, were doing their best to get over the loss

of their third child when Linsey complained of a headache and weakness down one

side on Christmas Day.

She decided to go to bed with a hot water bottle but scalded her arm while

making it.

At Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough a junior doctor treated the minor scald,

then dealt with Linsey's complaint that she was having difficulty speaking and

was numb down one side.

He checked her arm and chest with a portable ultrasound machine - then announced

she was suffering from grief due to the loss of her child.

Mark said: " I knew it was more than that but it's difficult to argue with

doctors so I just took Linsey home hoping she would get well.

" But on Boxing Day she was dribbling and could no longer really get any words

out or get out of bed so I called out a GP. "

To Mark's amazement the doctor insisted that Linsey was suffering " deep trauma "

due to the loss of her child. He checked her pulse and blood pressure and then

prescribed two anti-depressant tablets.

Next day Linsey couldn't move one side of her body or keep her eyes open.

Mark called the GP practice again and a woman doctor came. She said Linsey

should go to hospital - but no arrangements were made.

In desperation Mark phoned again the following day and another woman GP arrived.

He said: " She tried to wake my wife but couldn't. I thought this time they might

take her to hospital because she was so poorly but the doctor took her pulse,

did a blood test and then pre - scribed more anti-depressants. "

The next day two psychiatric nurses - called out by the GP - suddenly turned up

at Mark's home at Loftus, near Middlesbrough.

He said: " They told me they had been sent to admit my wife to the local

psychiatric hospital because of her depression.

" I couldn't believe what I was hearing and insisted that Linsey wasn't

depressed. I said she was ill and needed to go to casualty. "

Mark sobbed with frustration as the nurses tried to get Linsey to sign consent

forms to be admitted. She couldn't read the forms, couldn't speak and was unable

to sign.

Family friend Mark , 41, who was staying with the couple, said: " I stepped

in and sent them off with a flea in their ear. A couple of hours later they

returned with a consultant psychiatrist.

" He took one look at Linsey and said she had suffered a stroke. Her face had

dropped on one side and she had virtually lost her speech.

" He said she needed to go to hospital fast and an ambulance was called. That was

the first time anyone had mentioned the word. "

At Cook hospital a series of scans confirmed a stroke which had started as

minor bleeding but had turned into a large clot.

On New Year's Eve doctors operated but next day Linsey died. Hospital bosses

paid for last Wednesday's funeral including coffin, hearse, car for mourners,

digging of the grave and burial.

Mark - a full-time carer for younger son Mason who has water on the brain -

said: " I'm not sure if that's an admission that they got it wrong but I never

asked them to pay. They must have something on their conscience if they did it

without being asked. "

He says a GP also visited him to say an " awful mistake " had been made.

The community in Loftus has rallied round and hundreds turned out for Linsey's

funeral.Apub laid on free food and drink.

Now friends and relatives are raising cash to pay for Mark and his sons to go on

holiday.

Meanwhile, the dad is seeking legal aid for a compensation battle.

A Cook hospital spokeswoman said: " We offer our sincere condolences. As

this is classed as a maternal deathwe are following the procedure which includes

a report from all the health care organisations involved. "

Caroline King, practice manager at Loftus Surgery, refused to confirm if a GP

had visited Mark after his wife's death but added: " An investigation is

underway. "

But Mark said: " Linsey's symptoms should have immediately set alarm bells

ringing. They'd just got it into their heads it was depression.

" Losing the baby was tough but we were coping. Now she's gone, life is going to

be a struggle for me. "

[Guest guest]

Another example of why a full medical physical should always be performed on

someone before a psychiatric diagnosis.

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=wrong-wrong-wrong & method=full & objectid=\

20291548 & siteid=93463-name_page.html

20 January 2008

WRONG WRONG WRONG

EXCLUSIVE 3 docs miss stroke & say Linsey is depressed after losing her baby..

Nurses are even sent to take her to a psychiatric hospital After 11 DAYS' hell

she dies in hospital following a brain op Appalling tragedy of mum of two killed

by medical blunders

By Martyn Halle

Heartbroken Mark Hibberd is mourning his wife Linsey after a shocking series of

hopelessly WRONG diagnoses by a procession of doctors.

Linsey, 29, was struck down with all the classic symptoms of a stroke a few days

after her eagerly-awaited third baby was still-born.

But a hospital casualty doctor WRONGLY diagnosed her slurred speech and numbness

on one side of her body as grief caused by loss of the child.

As the symptoms worsened Mark, 39, called his GPs but two doctors WRONGLY

diagnosed depression - and one even sent two nurses to take Linsey to

psychiatric hospital.

Finally a psychiatrist with no specialist training in brain haemorrhage took one

look at the semi-paralysed mum and stated the blindingly obvious: SHE'S HAD A

STROKE.

By then it was too late. Mum-oftwo Linsey died from a massive blood clot on the

brain just 11 days after losing her baby.

Unusually, the hospital where the first wrong diagnosis was made paid for last

week's funeral without being asked.

But Mark, who wept bitterly as his wife's coffin was lowered into the same grave

as their still-born son's, told The People: " I can't believe that I've lost the

baby and my wife one after another.

" There was nothing that could be done for the baby - he just came too soon at 28

weeks - but there was every chance that Linsey could have survived.

" I shall never forgive the Health Service for letting her down so badly. "

Mark, who is to sue his local NHS trust as he struggles to bring up sons Mason,

two, and MacKenzie, three, is still bewildered at how medical professionals

missed the tell-tale signs of a stroke - the third biggest killer of Britons

every year.

Speaking a week after The People exposed the alarming number of deaths caused by

medical blunders, he said: " You see them getting symptoms like that right all

the time on TV medical dramas.

" But here they simply ignored what was staring them in the face. "

The couple, married for eight years, were doing their best to get over the loss

of their third child when Linsey complained of a headache and weakness down one

side on Christmas Day.

She decided to go to bed with a hot water bottle but scalded her arm while

making it.

At Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough a junior doctor treated the minor scald,

then dealt with Linsey's complaint that she was having difficulty speaking and

was numb down one side.

He checked her arm and chest with a portable ultrasound machine - then announced

she was suffering from grief due to the loss of her child.

Mark said: " I knew it was more than that but it's difficult to argue with

doctors so I just took Linsey home hoping she would get well.

" But on Boxing Day she was dribbling and could no longer really get any words

out or get out of bed so I called out a GP. "

To Mark's amazement the doctor insisted that Linsey was suffering " deep trauma "

due to the loss of her child. He checked her pulse and blood pressure and then

prescribed two anti-depressant tablets.

Next day Linsey couldn't move one side of her body or keep her eyes open.

Mark called the GP practice again and a woman doctor came. She said Linsey

should go to hospital - but no arrangements were made.

In desperation Mark phoned again the following day and another woman GP arrived.

He said: " She tried to wake my wife but couldn't. I thought this time they might

take her to hospital because she was so poorly but the doctor took her pulse,

did a blood test and then pre - scribed more anti-depressants. "

The next day two psychiatric nurses - called out by the GP - suddenly turned up

at Mark's home at Loftus, near Middlesbrough.

He said: " They told me they had been sent to admit my wife to the local

psychiatric hospital because of her depression.

" I couldn't believe what I was hearing and insisted that Linsey wasn't

depressed. I said she was ill and needed to go to casualty. "

Mark sobbed with frustration as the nurses tried to get Linsey to sign consent

forms to be admitted. She couldn't read the forms, couldn't speak and was unable

to sign.

Family friend Mark , 41, who was staying with the couple, said: " I stepped

in and sent them off with a flea in their ear. A couple of hours later they

returned with a consultant psychiatrist.

" He took one look at Linsey and said she had suffered a stroke. Her face had

dropped on one side and she had virtually lost her speech.

" He said she needed to go to hospital fast and an ambulance was called. That was

the first time anyone had mentioned the word. "

At Cook hospital a series of scans confirmed a stroke which had started as

minor bleeding but had turned into a large clot.

On New Year's Eve doctors operated but next day Linsey died. Hospital bosses

paid for last Wednesday's funeral including coffin, hearse, car for mourners,

digging of the grave and burial.

Mark - a full-time carer for younger son Mason who has water on the brain -

said: " I'm not sure if that's an admission that they got it wrong but I never

asked them to pay. They must have something on their conscience if they did it

without being asked. "

He says a GP also visited him to say an " awful mistake " had been made.

The community in Loftus has rallied round and hundreds turned out for Linsey's

funeral.Apub laid on free food and drink.

Now friends and relatives are raising cash to pay for Mark and his sons to go on

holiday.

Meanwhile, the dad is seeking legal aid for a compensation battle.

A Cook hospital spokeswoman said: " We offer our sincere condolences. As

this is classed as a maternal deathwe are following the procedure which includes

a report from all the health care organisations involved. "

Caroline King, practice manager at Loftus Surgery, refused to confirm if a GP

had visited Mark after his wife's death but added: " An investigation is

underway. "

But Mark said: " Linsey's symptoms should have immediately set alarm bells

ringing. They'd just got it into their heads it was depression.

" Losing the baby was tough but we were coping. Now she's gone, life is going to

be a struggle for me. "

[Guest guest]

Another example of why a full medical physical should always be performed on

someone before a psychiatric diagnosis.

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=wrong-wrong-wrong & method=full & objectid=\

20291548 & siteid=93463-name_page.html

20 January 2008

WRONG WRONG WRONG

EXCLUSIVE 3 docs miss stroke & say Linsey is depressed after losing her baby..

Nurses are even sent to take her to a psychiatric hospital After 11 DAYS' hell

she dies in hospital following a brain op Appalling tragedy of mum of two killed

by medical blunders

By Martyn Halle

Heartbroken Mark Hibberd is mourning his wife Linsey after a shocking series of

hopelessly WRONG diagnoses by a procession of doctors.

Linsey, 29, was struck down with all the classic symptoms of a stroke a few days

after her eagerly-awaited third baby was still-born.

But a hospital casualty doctor WRONGLY diagnosed her slurred speech and numbness

on one side of her body as grief caused by loss of the child.

As the symptoms worsened Mark, 39, called his GPs but two doctors WRONGLY

diagnosed depression - and one even sent two nurses to take Linsey to

psychiatric hospital.

Finally a psychiatrist with no specialist training in brain haemorrhage took one

look at the semi-paralysed mum and stated the blindingly obvious: SHE'S HAD A

STROKE.

By then it was too late. Mum-oftwo Linsey died from a massive blood clot on the

brain just 11 days after losing her baby.

Unusually, the hospital where the first wrong diagnosis was made paid for last

week's funeral without being asked.

But Mark, who wept bitterly as his wife's coffin was lowered into the same grave

as their still-born son's, told The People: " I can't believe that I've lost the

baby and my wife one after another.

" There was nothing that could be done for the baby - he just came too soon at 28

weeks - but there was every chance that Linsey could have survived.

" I shall never forgive the Health Service for letting her down so badly. "

Mark, who is to sue his local NHS trust as he struggles to bring up sons Mason,

two, and MacKenzie, three, is still bewildered at how medical professionals

missed the tell-tale signs of a stroke - the third biggest killer of Britons

every year.

Speaking a week after The People exposed the alarming number of deaths caused by

medical blunders, he said: " You see them getting symptoms like that right all

the time on TV medical dramas.

" But here they simply ignored what was staring them in the face. "

The couple, married for eight years, were doing their best to get over the loss

of their third child when Linsey complained of a headache and weakness down one

side on Christmas Day.

She decided to go to bed with a hot water bottle but scalded her arm while

making it.

At Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough a junior doctor treated the minor scald,

then dealt with Linsey's complaint that she was having difficulty speaking and

was numb down one side.

He checked her arm and chest with a portable ultrasound machine - then announced

she was suffering from grief due to the loss of her child.

Mark said: " I knew it was more than that but it's difficult to argue with

doctors so I just took Linsey home hoping she would get well.

" But on Boxing Day she was dribbling and could no longer really get any words

out or get out of bed so I called out a GP. "

To Mark's amazement the doctor insisted that Linsey was suffering " deep trauma "

due to the loss of her child. He checked her pulse and blood pressure and then

prescribed two anti-depressant tablets.

Next day Linsey couldn't move one side of her body or keep her eyes open.

Mark called the GP practice again and a woman doctor came. She said Linsey

should go to hospital - but no arrangements were made.

In desperation Mark phoned again the following day and another woman GP arrived.

He said: " She tried to wake my wife but couldn't. I thought this time they might

take her to hospital because she was so poorly but the doctor took her pulse,

did a blood test and then pre - scribed more anti-depressants. "

The next day two psychiatric nurses - called out by the GP - suddenly turned up

at Mark's home at Loftus, near Middlesbrough.

He said: " They told me they had been sent to admit my wife to the local

psychiatric hospital because of her depression.

" I couldn't believe what I was hearing and insisted that Linsey wasn't

depressed. I said she was ill and needed to go to casualty. "

Mark sobbed with frustration as the nurses tried to get Linsey to sign consent

forms to be admitted. She couldn't read the forms, couldn't speak and was unable

to sign.

Family friend Mark , 41, who was staying with the couple, said: " I stepped

in and sent them off with a flea in their ear. A couple of hours later they

returned with a consultant psychiatrist.

" He took one look at Linsey and said she had suffered a stroke. Her face had

dropped on one side and she had virtually lost her speech.

" He said she needed to go to hospital fast and an ambulance was called. That was

the first time anyone had mentioned the word. "

At Cook hospital a series of scans confirmed a stroke which had started as

minor bleeding but had turned into a large clot.

On New Year's Eve doctors operated but next day Linsey died. Hospital bosses

paid for last Wednesday's funeral including coffin, hearse, car for mourners,

digging of the grave and burial.

Mark - a full-time carer for younger son Mason who has water on the brain -

said: " I'm not sure if that's an admission that they got it wrong but I never

asked them to pay. They must have something on their conscience if they did it

without being asked. "

He says a GP also visited him to say an " awful mistake " had been made.

The community in Loftus has rallied round and hundreds turned out for Linsey's

funeral.Apub laid on free food and drink.

Now friends and relatives are raising cash to pay for Mark and his sons to go on

holiday.

Meanwhile, the dad is seeking legal aid for a compensation battle.

A Cook hospital spokeswoman said: " We offer our sincere condolences. As

this is classed as a maternal deathwe are following the procedure which includes

a report from all the health care organisations involved. "

Caroline King, practice manager at Loftus Surgery, refused to confirm if a GP

had visited Mark after his wife's death but added: " An investigation is

underway. "

But Mark said: " Linsey's symptoms should have immediately set alarm bells

ringing. They'd just got it into their heads it was depression.

" Losing the baby was tough but we were coping. Now she's gone, life is going to

be a struggle for me. "

[Guest guest]

Another example of why a full medical physical should always be performed on

someone before a psychiatric diagnosis.

http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=wrong-wrong-wrong & method=full & objectid=\

20291548 & siteid=93463-name_page.html

20 January 2008

WRONG WRONG WRONG

EXCLUSIVE 3 docs miss stroke & say Linsey is depressed after losing her baby..

Nurses are even sent to take her to a psychiatric hospital After 11 DAYS' hell

she dies in hospital following a brain op Appalling tragedy of mum of two killed

by medical blunders

By Martyn Halle

Heartbroken Mark Hibberd is mourning his wife Linsey after a shocking series of

hopelessly WRONG diagnoses by a procession of doctors.

Linsey, 29, was struck down with all the classic symptoms of a stroke a few days

after her eagerly-awaited third baby was still-born.

But a hospital casualty doctor WRONGLY diagnosed her slurred speech and numbness

on one side of her body as grief caused by loss of the child.

As the symptoms worsened Mark, 39, called his GPs but two doctors WRONGLY

diagnosed depression - and one even sent two nurses to take Linsey to

psychiatric hospital.

Finally a psychiatrist with no specialist training in brain haemorrhage took one

look at the semi-paralysed mum and stated the blindingly obvious: SHE'S HAD A

STROKE.

By then it was too late. Mum-oftwo Linsey died from a massive blood clot on the

brain just 11 days after losing her baby.

Unusually, the hospital where the first wrong diagnosis was made paid for last

week's funeral without being asked.

But Mark, who wept bitterly as his wife's coffin was lowered into the same grave

as their still-born son's, told The People: " I can't believe that I've lost the

baby and my wife one after another.

" There was nothing that could be done for the baby - he just came too soon at 28

weeks - but there was every chance that Linsey could have survived.

" I shall never forgive the Health Service for letting her down so badly. "

Mark, who is to sue his local NHS trust as he struggles to bring up sons Mason,

two, and MacKenzie, three, is still bewildered at how medical professionals

missed the tell-tale signs of a stroke - the third biggest killer of Britons

every year.

Speaking a week after The People exposed the alarming number of deaths caused by

medical blunders, he said: " You see them getting symptoms like that right all

the time on TV medical dramas.

" But here they simply ignored what was staring them in the face. "

The couple, married for eight years, were doing their best to get over the loss

of their third child when Linsey complained of a headache and weakness down one

side on Christmas Day.

She decided to go to bed with a hot water bottle but scalded her arm while

making it.

At Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough a junior doctor treated the minor scald,

then dealt with Linsey's complaint that she was having difficulty speaking and

was numb down one side.

He checked her arm and chest with a portable ultrasound machine - then announced

she was suffering from grief due to the loss of her child.

Mark said: " I knew it was more than that but it's difficult to argue with

doctors so I just took Linsey home hoping she would get well.

" But on Boxing Day she was dribbling and could no longer really get any words

out or get out of bed so I called out a GP. "

To Mark's amazement the doctor insisted that Linsey was suffering " deep trauma "

due to the loss of her child. He checked her pulse and blood pressure and then

prescribed two anti-depressant tablets.

Next day Linsey couldn't move one side of her body or keep her eyes open.

Mark called the GP practice again and a woman doctor came. She said Linsey

should go to hospital - but no arrangements were made.

In desperation Mark phoned again the following day and another woman GP arrived.

He said: " She tried to wake my wife but couldn't. I thought this time they might

take her to hospital because she was so poorly but the doctor took her pulse,

did a blood test and then pre - scribed more anti-depressants. "

The next day two psychiatric nurses - called out by the GP - suddenly turned up

at Mark's home at Loftus, near Middlesbrough.

He said: " They told me they had been sent to admit my wife to the local

psychiatric hospital because of her depression.

" I couldn't believe what I was hearing and insisted that Linsey wasn't

depressed. I said she was ill and needed to go to casualty. "

Mark sobbed with frustration as the nurses tried to get Linsey to sign consent

forms to be admitted. She couldn't read the forms, couldn't speak and was unable

to sign.

Family friend Mark , 41, who was staying with the couple, said: " I stepped

in and sent them off with a flea in their ear. A couple of hours later they

returned with a consultant psychiatrist.

" He took one look at Linsey and said she had suffered a stroke. Her face had

dropped on one side and she had virtually lost her speech.

" He said she needed to go to hospital fast and an ambulance was called. That was

the first time anyone had mentioned the word. "

At Cook hospital a series of scans confirmed a stroke which had started as

minor bleeding but had turned into a large clot.

On New Year's Eve doctors operated but next day Linsey died. Hospital bosses

paid for last Wednesday's funeral including coffin, hearse, car for mourners,

digging of the grave and burial.

Mark - a full-time carer for younger son Mason who has water on the brain -

said: " I'm not sure if that's an admission that they got it wrong but I never

asked them to pay. They must have something on their conscience if they did it

without being asked. "

He says a GP also visited him to say an " awful mistake " had been made.

The community in Loftus has rallied round and hundreds turned out for Linsey's

funeral.Apub laid on free food and drink.

Now friends and relatives are raising cash to pay for Mark and his sons to go on

holiday.

Meanwhile, the dad is seeking legal aid for a compensation battle.

A Cook hospital spokeswoman said: " We offer our sincere condolences. As

this is classed as a maternal deathwe are following the procedure which includes

a report from all the health care organisations involved. "

Caroline King, practice manager at Loftus Surgery, refused to confirm if a GP

had visited Mark after his wife's death but added: " An investigation is

underway. "

But Mark said: " Linsey's symptoms should have immediately set alarm bells

ringing. They'd just got it into their heads it was depression.

" Losing the baby was tough but we were coping. Now she's gone, life is going to

be a struggle for me. "