‘Beautiful’ mum dies just one day after being given wrong hospital treatment

‘Beautiful’ Mother Dies a Day After Receiving Incorrect Hospital Treatment

An inquest has revealed that neglect played a role in the tragic death of a mother-of-two who was misdiagnosed by healthcare professionals. Kayleigh Colegate, 35, from Rhyl, struggled with severe breathlessness, barely able to move between rooms in her home on Larkmount Road. In May 2022, after a visit to her GP where her condition was suspected to be a pulmonary embolism, she was urgently sent to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan, experiencing delays in ambulance assistance which led her father to drive her to the hospital instead. Initially diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), a non-life-threatening condition, it was later revealed she actually had sinus tachycardia related to a critical pulmonary embolism that required immediate attention.

During the inquest at Ruthin, it was uncovered that a misdiagnosis at her GP surgery led to Mrs. Colegate receiving the wrong treatment at the hospital, ultimately resulting in her death from an undiagnosed pulmonary embolism. Dr. Mark Anderton, an emergency lead consultant at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, detailed the events at the hospital, where Mrs. Colegate was administered adenosine and a betablocker in attempts to stabilise her condition, unfortunately leading to her passing away the following day. Dr. Tom O’Driscoll, a former clinical director, admitted to the misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment pathways followed, attributing cognitive bias as a factor impacting the correct interpretation of ECG results.

Despite efforts to clarify the circumstances surrounding Mrs. Colegate’s death, the Assistant Coroner ruled that her passing was due to a pulmonary embolism from deep vein thrombosis, categorised as natural causes but contributed by neglect. The widower, Ian Colegate, expressed his hope for hospitals to learn from mistakes to prevent future tragedies like theirs. He described his late wife as “beautiful” and cherished her kindness, humour, and zest for life, leaving a void in the lives of those who loved her.

After this heartbreaking case, the focus is on improving medical practices to avoid similar incidents in the future and honour the memory of Kayleigh Colegate.

Insights: Medical negligence cases like this highlight the need for thorough and accurate diagnoses in healthcare to prevent tragic outcomes. It is essential for healthcare professionals to remain vigilant, avoid cognitive biases, and prioritise patient safety above all else. In situations where mistakes occur, transparency, accountability, and a commitment to learning and improvement are crucial to prevent future errors.

Summary: The story of Kayleigh Colegate’s untimely death due to incorrect hospital treatment serves as a poignant reminder of the impact of medical misdiagnoses and negligence. Her family’s plea for hospitals to learn from this tragedy underscores the importance of patient care, accurate diagnoses, and continuous improvement in healthcare practices to prevent similar incidents.