A father of seven was not informed by doctors that he was terminally ill, as an investigation has revealed. William Chapman, also known as Syd, only discovered he had fatal pulmonary fibrosis when his GP mentioned it during a phone call, assuming he already knew the prognosis.
Tragically, Mr. Chapman passed away eight months later, shedding light on the lack of accountability and failure to keep proper records by doctors at the Countess of Chester Hospital. The 58-year-old, residing in Upton, Cheshire, succumbed to the illness in 2022.
Initially admitted to the hospital in July 2021 due to worsening shortness of breath, Mr. Chapman was diagnosed with COVID-19 and underwent further testing. Despite a junior doctor reassuring him in September that there was nothing to worry about and that he would be fine, subsequent consultations with a consultant in November revealed the grim reality of pulmonary fibrosis.
Pulmonary fibrosis involves the thickening and scarring of lung tissue, leading to difficulty in breathing and a dry cough. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, and treatments aim to alleviate symptoms and slow down its progression.
Mr. Chapman’s daughter, Chantelle, expressed the family’s profound disappointment in the Trust’s handling of the situation. Had her father been informed of his prognosis, he could have made decisions about his health, enabling him to spend his remaining time with his loved ones more meaningfully.
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) found that the hospital staff failed to engage with Mr. Chapman’s family and lacked proper record-keeping during some consultations. While no clinical care deficiencies were identified, the Trust has since taken steps to rectify the situation, including issuing an apology, making service improvements, enhancing recordkeeping practices, and compensating Mr. Chapman’s wife.
A spokesperson for the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust expressed deep regret for the suffering Mr. Chapman and his family endured. They acknowledged the Ombudsman’s findings and vowed to implement the recommended improvements to prevent such oversights in the future.
SOURCE