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Epilepsy treatment may have prevented death
Peter Devine14/12/2005
A COUPLE told of the horrifying ordeal of witnessing their only son suffering a series of convulsions in hospital prior to his death.
Mum Sue Derbyshire, an executive councillor with Stockport Council and dad Neil, told an inquest that despite their son Toby's condition nobody came from Salford's Hope Hospital to review his deteriorating condition at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI).
The inquest in Manchester heard that the 20-year-old Marple student, admitted to hospital with a fractured ankle, died an "accidental death" caused by a gastric haemorrhage which caused swelling of the brain.
After the inquest a weeping Mrs Derbyshire told the Stockport Express: "I think it really hurts inside that MRI could not get hold of somebody with a neurological specialism. Toby was shaking for four days, between April 27 and May 1 when he died, and we feel there should have been more urgency about getting him a diagnosis."
During the inquest it was revealed that Toby had his first epileptic-type seizure while in Brussels in 2003. According to dad Neil, despite his son being referred by his GP to Stockport's Stepping Hill it still took the hospital 14 months to refer Toby for further tests at MRI.
Mr Derbyshire asked consultant neurologist Dr Helen Reid, who carried out the post mortem, whether the delay could have affected Toby's condition.
In reply Dr Reid said: "It's a very difficult question, if he had started up on anti-epilepsy drugs sooner there might have been a difference in his outcome."
Deputy coroner Leonard Gorodkin said: "I am not here to defend Stepping Hill, but in this instance it was the exacerbation of the fall that caused him to die when he did."
Earlier the inquest heard that Toby sustained the fracture after falling down stairs while out at Jilly's night club, Oxford Street, on April 22, this year.
After the inquest the Derbyshires said they planned to demand answers about Toby's treatment from both Stepping Hill and MRI.
Dr Chris Burke the chief executive of Stockport NHS Founda-tion Trust said: "We were sorry to hear of the sad death of Toby Derbyshire and we send our sincere condolences to his family.
"We have reviewed the case notes relating to Toby's treatment at Stepping Hill Hospital and we cannot identify any delay in his treatment as a result of his contact with this hospital.
"We will be contacting Toby's parents in order to seek a clear understanding of what his family perceive was the delay to his treatment as this view has never previously been expressed to us."
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1/01/2006 at 11:51
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Because of blunderings of so called Doctors.The health service.They are all Bloody usless.Well!We will hold an enquiry.I am glad to be out of it.
All England is fit for is breeding Soldiers.
7/01/2006 at 09:31