Ryan James Richard Campbell · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 29th August 2023 an inquest was opened into the death of Ryan James Richard Campbell aged 33. At the inquest I concluded that Ryan Campbell died as a result of an acute myocardial infarction due to severe coronary artery atheroma that had not been identified for surgical intervention, which was likely to have resulted in survival, during medical investigation as imaging measures were still awaited at the time of his death.

Ryan Campbell had been suffering with chest pain which prompted him to visit his GP on 15th December 2023. His GP referred him immediately to Stepping Hill Hospital she underwent a series of tests. He was discharged on 16th December 2023 and arrangements were made for follow up tests, namely echo cardiogram, a CT angiogram and a 24 hr heart monitor. The subsequent echocardiogram and 24hr heart monitor did not provide any further diagnostic outcome but his symptoms persisted and he consulted his GP again on 19th January 2024 resulting in an expedite letter sent the same day to the bookings team in the imaging section of the cardiology department. It was not until the 22nd February 2024 that the cardiology team requested an urgent stress echocardiogram which was then scheduled for 3rd April 2024

The absence of a full suite of cardiac diagnostic imaging equipment at Stepping Hill Hospital, particularly CT or MR angiograms, contributes to delays in diagnosis for patients and the risk of delays is heightened by having to switch treatment centres. This lack of a range of equipment is inconsistent with providing a full cardiology service to patients.