Christine Rita Booker · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On the 8th March 2023, an investigation was commenced into the death of Christine Rita Booker, born on the 6th October 1943.

The investigation concluded at the end of the Inquest on the 17th May 2024.

The Medical Cause of Death was:

1a Haemorrhagic shock

1b Iatrogenic injury of right pelvic blood vessels

1c

2

The conclusion of the Inquest recorded that Christine Rita Booker died as a consequence of a complication of elective hip replacement surgery.

Christine Rita Booker underwent an elective right total hip replacement at the Winterbourne Hospital, operated by Circle Health Group, on 23rd February 2023. During the procedure, and in order to adequately secure the acetabular cup to her hip socket, the consultant orthopaedic surgeon, ████████ drilled a hole in the socket to accommodate a 20mm screw. Blood flowed from the drill hole, which stopped upon the insertion of the screw. Mrs Booker lost approximately 500ml of blood in the operation, which is at the upper level of the expected blood loss. Mrs Booker initially appeared to recover as expected following such a procedure, but became severely unwell at approximately 18.55 when her blood pressure became unrecordable. Measures were taken to resuscitate and stabilise Mrs Booker and she was transferred to Dorset County Hospital for ongoing treatment and imaging. The imaging demonstrated extensive intraperitoneal and extraperitoneal blood, likely as a consequence of the surgery. Following a conversation with a vascular surgeon it was determined that Mrs Booker required embolization of the bedding vessels. However, there is no out of hours interventional radiology at Dorset County Hospital. Therefore, Mrs Booker was transferred to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital for the embolization of the bleeding vessels by interventional radiology. Following the embolization, she initially stabilised, but deteriorated again on 24th February 2023. Christine Rita Booker died at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital on 24th February 2023.

1. During the inquest evidence was heard that:

i. There is no out of hours interventional radiology at Dorset County Hospital and that patients requiring this potentially urgent and life-saving intervention that live in the West of the County require transfer to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital for treatment.

2. I have concerns with regard to the following:

i. Because of the lack of out of hours interventional radiology at Dorset County Hospital, patients in the West of the County requiring such an intervention must be transferred to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital. This exposes these patients to a potentially considerable and significant delay in the provision of urgent and life-saving treatment, which, in turn, exposes them to an increased risk of death.