Investigation and inquest
On 07 April 2025 I commenced an investigation into the death of Phillip Lawrence HOGGARTH aged 87. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 10 December 2025.
The conclusion of the inquest was recorded as:
Natural Causes
The medical cause of death was:
1a) Myocardial Infarction and Pulmonary Oedema
1b) Valvular heart disease, Left Total Hip Replacement, Hypertension, Anaemia
Circumstances of the death
PH was admitted to the Grange University Hospital in Llanfrecha for a Total hip Replacement, which was successfully performed on 18/3/2025. Post-operatively he deteriorated and suffered a myocardial infarction which resulted in his death on 25/3/2025.
PH suffered from chronic iron-deficiency anaemia. The anaesthetists determined that he should have an iron transfusion before his operation. This took place 7 days prior to his admission to hospital.
In evidence the inquest was informed that the infusion should have taken place “some weeks” prior to the operation to be effective. The exact number of weeks was unclear, but I was informed that 7 days was not sufficient time for the iron to have any effect.
I also heard that there was no apparent consensus between clinicians as to when the infusion should be given, and a lack of communication in this regard may have compounded the problem.
Moreover, in this case, the deceased resided in Powys and the iron transfusion (and hence the operation) had previously been postponed as there was a disagreement over which health board should fund the iron infusion.
Coroner’s concerns
The deceased died from a heart attack and I did not determine that any omission in the administration of the iron had more than minimally contributed to his death. However the lack of a consistent approach to pre-operative management and administration of iron to a chronically anaemic patient could put patients’ lives at risk in the future.
Kindly address the issues raised, namely:
1. Whether there are clinical guidelines which determine the pre-operative administration of iron therapy.
2. Whether there is a process which supports these guidelines
3. Whether there is an agreement between Health Boards in these circumstances regarding funding to prevent potentially damaging delays in surgery.