Tunbridge Wells NHS trust admits man’s death was avoidable

A man’s death “would have been avoided” if he had not been wrongly sent home from hospital, a health trust has told an inquest.

Gavin Andrew, 43, died at the Tunbridge Wells Hospital on 7 November 2022.

He had been told a swelling in his throat was probably an infection.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust told the inquest in Maidstone that Mr Andrew’s care had fallen “below standard” and that he should not have been discharged.

Mr Andrew was taken to hospital with uncontrolled dribbling, a swollen and painful throat, difficulty speaking and an inability to swallow.

He had initially been told he had an infection and given painkillers and sent home.

He deteriorated and was taken back to the hospital struggling to breathe, when doctors diagnosed epiglottitis, a swelling of a flap of tissue at the back of the throat.

Medics tried to insert an airway, but by then he had suffered a brain injury due to lack of oxygen and never regained consciousness.

The inquest began with a statement from the trust being read out.

It admitted if Mr Andrews had not been discharged he would have been observed further and identified as needing intervention.

The statement also said when he returned to the hospital there was a failure in his care due to “a paediatric emergency”.

The trust statement said: “With subsequent care his death would have been avoided”.

His widow Emma described the father-of-two as “having a larger than life personality, an infectious laugh”.

She said: “I cannot put into words the void his death has left every single day.”