Investigation and inquest
On 28th February 2025, I opened an inquest into the death of Valerie Hampson who died at Willow Wood Hospice, Ashton-under-Lyne on 29th December 2024, aged 82 years. The investigation concluded with an inquest which I heard on 11th June 2025.
A post mortem examination determined Mrs Hampson died as a consequence of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
At the end of the inquest, I recorded a conclusion of Natural Causes.
Circumstances of the death
Mrs Hampson died at Willow Wood Hospice, Ashton-under-Lyne on 29th December 2024 as a consequence of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, having first been diagnosed with a low grade follicular Lymphoma in 2023.
Coroner’s concerns
The court heard evidence that in October 2024, Mrs Hampson sustained minor wounds to both knees in a fall outside her home. Mrs Hampson was later seen on a number of occasions in the Emergency Department and referred herself to the District Nurses on 4th October 2024 for wound care, remaining on their case load until her admission to Tameside General Hospital on 30th October 2024.
By the time Mrs Hampson’s wounds were formally assessed in hospital by a Tissue Viability Nurse on 31st October 2024, the wound to her left knee was described as ‘5.4cm x 13cm 10% necrosis (thick dark devitalized tissue) 40% slough (yellow devitalized tissue) 50% granulation tissue.’
I am concerned that the Trust has not undertaken any serious incident investigation with a view to identifying if any learning could usefully be identified in the light of the progression of Mrs Hampson’s left leg wound whilst under the care of the District Nurses.
It is a further matter of concern that the court heard evidence that an Orthopaedic review undertaken in the Emergency Department on Mrs Hampson’s initial attendance resulted in a recommendation that Mrs Hampson should be followed up in fracture clinic. For reasons which did not become clear during the inquest, the evidence of the consultant orthopaedic surgeon was that no such follow up appears to have taken place.