Police are investigating the deaths of patients who underwent heart operations at Castle Hill Hospital in Hull. The focus is on 11 patients who received Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implant (TAVI) procedures, which involve replacing a faulty heart valve through an artery in the leg.
Mortality Rate Concerns
- The hospital’s TAVI mortality rate was three times higher than the UK average at the time.
- Staff concerns led managers to commission several reviews, but none were made public.
- In 2021, seven cardiac consultants expressed their concerns about safety and transparency in the TAVI service to the chief executive and chief medical officer.
Case Study: Dorothy Readhead
One patient, Dorothy Readhead, underwent a TAVI procedure after being diagnosed with severe stenosis of her aortic valve. Key points from her case include:
- She suffered from breathlessness and was deemed unsuitable for open-heart surgery due to calcified arteries.
- Medics mistakenly inserted a new valve through her right leg instead of the planned left side.
- This mistake caused significant tearing of her femoral artery during multiple attempts to deploy the device over six hours while she remained awake under local anesthetic.
Findings from Reports
- Reports concluded that using an inappropriate access site during elective non-emergency procedures caused avoidable vascular complications.
- An anaesthetist described the situation as a "rescue situation," indicating a lack of proper risk assessment for patient safety.
Additional Patient Concerns
A second review disagreed with the wording on Mrs. Readhead’s death certificate, which listed the cause as hospital-acquired pneumonia and severe stenosis. Her daughters were unaware of the true circumstances until they were shown documentation.
Case of Mr. Hunter
- Mr. Hunter, aged 80, died in October after being diagnosed with a problem that left his daughters reassured he would soon resume normal activities.
- The Royal College of Physicians graded his care as very poor, and his daughters were misled about the circumstances of his death.
Leadership and Accountability
After raising concerns about Dorothy’s case, Dr. Thanjavur Bragadeesh, the then-clinical director of the cardiology department, was asked to step down as part of a wider leadership reorganization.
- The rationale for this decision was challenged, and the trust requested the Royal College of Physicians to assess whether the decision was correct.
- Poor working relationships within the cardiology department were acknowledged by reviewers.
Trust Response
The Humber Healthcare Partnership, which runs Castle Hill Hospital, stated:
- They understand there may be questions and are happy to answer them directly.
- Following the review, they concluded that the TAVI service is essential for the region but requires investment and improvement actions.
Mortality Rate Data
- The trust added that three external reviews have shown mortality rates associated with TAVI are similar to the national average over a four-year period.
- However, additional reporting indicates that the service remains higher than the national average.
This investigation highlights significant concerns regarding patient safety and transparency in the TAVI procedures at Castle Hill Hospital.
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