Mass Ndow-Njie represents family at Inquest into death of Ms Bridget Stewart

7BR’s Mass Ndow-Njie represented the family of Ms Bridget Stewart whose death was contributed to by ‘sub-optimal anticoagulation management.’

The inquest into the death of Bridget Stewart has concluded that “sub-optimal management of anticoagulation treatment” contributed to her death. Ms Stewart, aged 58, died at Leicester Royal Infirmary on 29 February 2024 following a prolonged and complex medical course.

The inquest heard that there were multiple failings in the management of Ms Stewart’s anticoagulation in the months leading up to her death. In October 2023, although prescribed daily anticoagulation medication, she did not receive any for nine days. The drug chart recorded “Patient Refusal,” but there was no documentation to show that this was escalated to clinical staff, discussed with haematology, or addressed with Ms Stewart or her family.

Further failings occurred in early 2024, when the hospital failed to follow its own anticoagulation policy. This was recognised within Box 3 of the Record of Inquest, where the Coroner noted that the anticoagulation given was not in line with local policy and that no haematology input had been sought at crucial points in what was acknowledged to be a highly complex case. In particular, the Coroner recorded:

“The anticoagulation given to Ms Stewart was not in line with policy and there was no consultation with haematology about her anticoagulation therapy when it has been acknowledged that hers was a very complex case. On the 17 February 2024 Ms Stewart developed clotting in the arteries suppling her legs and had to have an above knee amputation of her right leg […]”.

In concluding the Inquest, the Coroner reached the following narrative conclusion – finding that Ms Stewart’s death was caused by:

“Recognised complications of a necessary gynaecological procedure contributed to by sub-optimal management of anticoagulation treatment.”

The Coroner indicated that she would also be writing a Letter of Concern to the Chief Executive of University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust regarding the use of dual record-keeping systems, which risked allowing important clinical information – such as anticoagulation decisions – to be missed or overwritten.

Mass represented Bridget’s family at the inquest, instructed by Maryam Abdullah of Lime Solicitors. He said: “Ms Stewart endured years of suffering with dignity and determination. It is now up to the Trust to act on the coroner’s findings and ensure that no other family has to go through the pain and loss that Ms Stewart and her family have endured.”

You can read more about the case in the BBC article here.

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