Hospital trust pays £300,000 after care failure led to death

Simon Smith’s life and those of his four young children, then 11, seven, two and one, were shattered by the death of Elizabeth, 34, in April 2009.

Mrs Smith died at home in Bransholme, Hull, after twice going to Hull Royal Infirmary’s accident and emergency department with severe abdominal pains.

Although a nurse practitioner at her GP’s had earlier diagnosed a hernia, hospital doctors failed to spot it and sent her home with medication for constipation. She died at home from peritonitis two days later.

Mr Smith said: “Elizabeth was in severe pain and discomfort so I called the emergency doctor who attended and immediately diagnosed the problem.

“However, by this time it was too late and my wife passed away at home in front of me and my family.

“The effect on my life and my family was massive. Our lives were shattered.”

An inquest found that if the hernia had been spotted “it’s likely that surgical intervention would have followed and with such intervention there’s a likelihood that Elizabeth Smith would have survived.”

The children will have a sum of money invested with the court which will be theirs at the age of 18. Mr Smith had rejected an initial offer on the advice of his solicitors Stamp, Jackson and Procter, after Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust admitted liability.

Mr Smith said: “Nothing can replace the loss of Elizabeth, but we now have some financial security and I can concentrate on looking after my family.”

The Trust said: “We are pleased that the legal process is now concluded. Our thoughts are with Mr Smith and his family today.”