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NHS Trust Apologizes After Patient Died Without Family Being Told of Weeklong Hospital Stay

The trust says an internal review confirmed a failure to notify next of kin.

Overview

  • Peter Hayes, 76, was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary after a May 29 collision and died on June 5 after being transferred to Castle Hill Hospital.
  • His daughter, Emma Hayes, says she was not told of his admission and only learned of his death when a doctor phoned a week later.
  • NHS Humber Health Partnership has apologized, outlined planned changes by its senior nursing team, and acknowledged a communication lapse identified by its investigation.
  • A letter seen by reporters says a contact number without a saved name was not called and a note to try again was not followed up, which the chief nurse described as an omission in care.
  • Humberside Police report the coroner found death from natural causes, specifying sepsis and pneumonia, and say no further inquiries are required after initial injuries were deemed not life-threatening; Emma Hayes is considering legal action and says she was offered no counselling.