Pensioner died after waiting more than five hours for an ambulance and another two hours waiting to be seen in hospital before being incorrectly diagnosed
* Clive Turner died at his home after suffering haemorrhage in digestive tract
* 73-year-old had waited more than five hours for ambulance the day before
* Waited a further two hours at Wrexham Maelor Hospital before being incorrectly diagnosed, inquest told
* He was discharged in early hours of the morning and died later the same day
* Coroner John Gittins tells of his concerns over the delays in service
* Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has promised to take action
By Julian Robinson for MailOnline
Published: 09:49 EST, 5 September 2014 | Updated: 15:56 EST, 5 September 2014
A pensioner died after waiting five-and-a-half hours for an ambulance - and a further two hours to be seen in hospital before being incorrectly diagnosed. Clive Turner died at his home in Rossett, north Wales after suffering a haemorrhage in his digestive tract, just hours after being released with constipation.
The night before, the 73-year-old had waited five-and-a-half hours for an ambulance to be made available before waiting two more hours to be seen at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
An inquest heard he had suffered with constipation in the week leading up to his death.
On March 25, an ambulance was called at 4pm after he reported suffering pain, but it was not until 9.30pm that an ambulance was available.
A first responder paramedic arrived to Mr Turner one hour and 27 minutes after the initial 999 call and a healthcare worker stayed with him until the main ambulance arrived.
Mr Turner arrived at Wrexham Maelor Hospital just after 9.50pm but was not seen until almost midnight, by Dr Tatiana Rooney from the emergency department.
That night, an abdominal X-ray was ordered for Mr Turner, who worked in engineering and as a ground catering manager at Liverpool and Everton football clubs, which found no signs of bowel obstruction.
Dr Rooney diagnosed Mr Turner with constipation and, during the early hours of March 26, discharged him from hospital.
But shortly before 1.25pm that day Mr Turner died at his home.
A post-mortem examination found he had a haemorrhage in his digestive tract and coroner John Gittins said he had been incorrectly diagnosed as constipated.
The cause of death was listed as a gastrointestinal haemorrhage, as a result of ischaemic bowel owing to atherosclerosis - or a clogging of the arteries.
In evidence, Dr Rooney said Mr Turner's main complaint was abdominal pain but he appeared comfortable and his pain score was recorded at two, which is deemed 'mild'.
She said she had not asked if he had taken any pain relief as she relied on the ambulance for that. ...
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