Keen golfer died after ‘routine’ hip replacement

Father-of-three Allan Hawksworth was mistakenly not given medication to stop his blood clotting until 72 hours after a routine hip replacement operation, an inquest heard.

He died nine days later from a blood clot caused by deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which developed following the NHS operation at Sheffield’s private Claremont Hospital.

Assistant deputy coroner Julian Fox blamed a series of “mistakes and miscommunications” for contributing to his death.

Recording a narrative verdict, Mr Fox said: “I find it more likely than not that the mistakes made at the Claremont and the miscommunications between medical practitioners and staff there, along with the missed opportunities to spot and rectify the problems, contributed to Mr Hawksworth’s death.”

The inquest heard the 73-year-old golfer should have been given an anti-coagulant drug within a few hours of the operation.

But there followed a “series of mistakes” which meant no anti-coagulant was prescribed, despite an entry in the medical records saying it had been given.

“There was uncertainty amongst medical staff about whose responsibility it was to issue such a prescription,” said the coroner.

Two days after Mr Hawksworth was discharged from hospital, a neighbour with medical experience said he was worried about his swollen left leg, so he went to A&E at the Northern General Hospital.

The pensioner was sent home, to return for a scan the next day, but further “miscommunication and misunderstanding” meant a hospital taxi failed to arrive.

It was June 19 before Mr Hawksworth was seen again, and he was given an anti-coagulant after a DVT on his left leg was confirmed.

Mr Fox said: “It is more likely than not that the delay in administering the treatment level of low molecular weight heparin contributed to the development of Mr Hawksworth’s DVT.”

Mr Hawksworth was discharged again but collapsed outside his home in Hope, Derbyshire, on June 21. He could not be revived.

Consultant haematologist Dr Samuel Ackroyd said the drug should be given within six to 12 hours of a hip replacement – not 72 hours later.

The coroner said he had been “reassured” by evidence from Claremont Hospital that steps had been taken to avoid any future repetition of such an event.