A&E 'neglect' of overdose patient

Mr Williams died in the accident and emergency unit in July

A hospital contributed to the death of a man who went to casualty after taking an overdose, but died after waiting for eight hours for a doctor, a coroner has decided.

Engineer Russell Williams, 26, from Caerphilly, south Wales, was taken to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, after swallowing 70 painkilling tablets in July.

The father-of-three was told to wait but died eight hours later still waiting to be seen by a doctor. His family are now suing the hospital for compensation.

Recording a verdict of accidental death contributed to by neglect, Cardiff coroner Lawrence Addicott said "procedures and note-taking at the hospital fell well below acceptable standards".

"A number of tests for his consciousness appeared to have been carried out in a casual manner and observations not recorded," he said.

After the inquest, solicitor Spencer Collier, acting for the family, said they were happy with the verdict.

"They hope the new measures put into place will stop this from happening again," he said.

A number of improvements have been implemented within the emergency unit to ensure that patients are appropriately monitored University Hospital Trust statement

Mr Williams' mother Margaret Allen said her son had been left to die on the ward.

Mr Williams was prescribed painkillers after his appendix was removed in March.

Dr Addicott said 768 tablets had been prescribed since the operation and Mr Williams could have built up a tolerance to the drug which may have hidden the usual signs of an overdose.

Dr Addicott described Mr Williams as a disturbed young man who was seeking attention.

The inquest, which began last week, heard that Mr Williams had not been seen by a doctor, despite being assessed as a patient who should be examined within an hour.

Mr Williams was told he would have to wait as there were only two doctors on duty at the emergency unit.

He vented his frustration at nursing staff but eventually fell asleep on a trolley bed, and it was several hours later before a nurse noticed he had stopped breathing.

'Upset'

Staff nurse Margaret Williams told the hearing that Mr Williams admitted taking between 60 and 70 dyhydrocodeine painkillers and claimed to have been coughing up blood.

Ms Williams said he was talking, walking and responding to questions.

She added that the night in question was a "very busy night".

Also giving evidence, Emma Powell, staff nurse on the trolley bay, said the patient got "understandably frustrated and upset" waiting to see a doctor.

She said she heard him snoring just before 0500 BST.

Home Office pathologist Dr Hugh White concluded that Mr Williams died of acute dyhydrocodeine toxicity and that tests showed toxin levels 10 times that associated with serious poisoning.

The hearing was also told the University Hospital Trust had admitted negligence and accepted liability in the case and expressed sympathy to his friends and family.

"A number of improvements have been implemented within the emergency unit to ensure that patients are appropriately monitored," a statement said.

In an independent report, Professor John Henry said the death may have been prevented by "more careful attention to procedures".