Gran died after 'physician's associate' left treatment in place for 16 HOURS longer than allowed
manchestereveningnews.co.ukPatients are being put at risk due to a lack of regulation and oversight of medical staff in a 'relatively new' role who could be confused for doctors, a coroner has warned.
It comes after the death of a much-loved Oldham grandmother following an unnecessary procedure incorrectly carried out by a Physician Associate (PA), a role which has sparked controversy in the medical community.
Susan Pollitt, 77, was admitted to the Royal Oldham Hospital in July last year after falling and breaking her arm. Due to an underlying health condition, the decision was taken to carry out an ascetic drain, a procedure to remove excess fluid from her abdomen. READ MORE: 'My mum died after something went drastically wrong....things have to change It was carried out by a PA despite, according to the coroner who oversaw an inquest into her death, there being 'no adequate procedure for ensuring PAs were competent and capable of undertaking such procedures' at the Northern Care Alliance, the trust which runs the Royal Oldham.
Ascetic drains should be left in for no more than six hours, however in total Susan's remained in place for 21 hours. It was clamped for 12 of these hours after an 'inappropriate' decision by the PA to do so.
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