Hospital death inquiry
11:44am Tuesday 8th April 2008
HOSPITAL bosses have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in its day assessment unit.
The 64-year-old man is believed to have died last Thursday evening after being admitted from A&E at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup.
It has been alleged there was no trolley, containing vital resuscitation equipment, available on the ward when the man suffered a cardiac arrest.
News Shopper understands the ward had been closed for a deep clean following a suspected outbreak of norovirus or winter vomiting disease and patients and equipment transferred to the neighbouring Swanley ward.
But pressure from A&E meant the assessment unit had to be reopened.
It is claimed staff warned it was not properly equipped to reopen, but had been overrruled.
A spokesman for Queen Mary's said the man had been assessed as "low risk" and was going to be discharged.