A Dartford mum who died in hospital was discharged hours earlier because the staff said she was fine and that they needed the bed space, an inquest heard.

Sian Hollands, 25, of Priory Hill, was admitted into Darent Valley Hospital on November 14 and discharged the next day between 3 and 4pm

However she was taken straight back into hospital with cardiac arrest and pronounced dead at 9:52pm from a pulmonary embolism.

Mother-of-three Sian was recovering from a heroin and crack addiction and was well on her way to recovery before the “sudden and catastrophic death”.

Speaking at the inquest today (March 27), Nicola Smith, Sian's mum, said: “She said she was going to go completely clean. She was in such high spirits. On November 7th at a family party she appeared to be way more positive.”

Ms Hollands was on methadone to treat her withdrawal symptoms and a few days after that party, she said she started to feel ill.

When her partner Carl Alleyne went to her home, she was slurring her words and appeared unable to stand.

Mr Alleyne said: “On Friday [November 20], she said she felt weak and wanted me to come and see her.

“She couldn't speak properly and couldn't breathe properly. At first thought it was drug or alcohol related.

“The symptoms were much worse than they were before when she had withdrawal symptoms.”

Ms Hollands was reluctant to go to hospital at first but her mum and partner convinced her that she needed to go on November 14.

Ambulance notes were made about the state of Sian at 2:45pm and again at 2:57pm, including her shortness of breath and difficulty walking.

Despite admitting that the ambulance notes are a vital part of anyone being admitted to A&E, Dr Leila Mohamed said that she did not locate a copy of the ambulance notes when she checked on her condition in hospital.

Dr Mohamed said: “Her chest was clear and her heart rate was normal. She wasn't short of breath.

"All the symptoms were in line with methodane withdrawal.”

The first set of observations made for Sian were at 6:43pm on the 14th and the next set of notes were made at 8am the following morning.

Mr Alleyne said: “The nurses said all the tests had come back fine and that she was fine.

“The doctor did not examine her. They said they were going to discharge her; we need the bed space.

“Sian was in a bad state and she wanted a wheelchair. The nurse came back with a discharge letter and I said she is not well enough to go home. She said that she is fine and that she is just hyperventilating.

“When she got out of the wheelchair she stumbled and her breathing got worse so I refused to bring him her home.”

Shortly afterwards she had her cardiac arrest and despite the attempts of the operating staff, she was pronounced dead later that day

Dr Ann Fleming carried out the post-mortem examination. She said that the symptoms similar cases can sometimes be “totally silent”, with the few symptoms being shortness of breath and a pain in the calves.

She said: “It’s a common cause of sudden and catastrophic death. The horror of these cases is in 50 per cent of cases it’s totally painless.

“She might have thought she just pulled her muscles and it’s not something a doctor might have caught. You have to know to look for it.”

Ever since her daughter’s death, Ms Smith has continued to try search for answers as to what happened.

She said: “I kept saying to my daughter this isn't right, she was 25 years old.

“She hadn't taken any drugs. She would walk into a room and say I used to be a drug addict, don't do that.

“I was the hospital's worst nightmare. I was told I would have the response within 28 days.”

The inquest continues.