Northampton General Hospital apologises to widow after poor care and fall from taxi contribute to husband’s death

Carol Mills, aged 71, says her husband Martin David Mills, 59, died on October 12, 2023 following what she describes as a series of failings during and after his hospital admission.

Mr Mills had undergone an operation earlier in the week to clear arteries in his leg. Mrs Mills said he became confused while in hospital and was experiencing hallucinations, which she said the hospital later admitted were linked to withdrawal from alcohol. She added that the hospital failed to check his medical notes properly, missed key warning signs, and did not monitor his condition adequately, which she says contributed directly to his deterioration and ultimately his death.

The University Hospitals of Northamptonshire apologised for “where his care did not meet the standards we expect” and said a detailed investigation had “addressed all of the learning from his care”.

Carol, who lives in the Mounts, said: “They have admitted due to care and lack of attention, contributed to his death.

“Everything was just basically a mess from start to finish.

“It’s disgusting, because I was there the day that he died. He didn’t know where he was, who he was. The whole thing was a mess from start to finish.”

She said that on the Thursday following his operation, his blood pressure dropped suddenly and she struggled to get staff to respond. After leaving the hospital, he fell while getting out of a taxi outside the hospital.

Carol said: “He got out the taxi on the Kettering Road, and he went in to go and use the cash machine to pay the driver. As he got out the taxi, he fell and hit his head.

“He was laying on the floor, and he held my hand, and he said, ‘I’m so sorry, Carol. I love you so much.’ At that point, I knew that he died.

“After all this, a paramedic turned up and tried CPR, stopping and then using physical pumping oxygen. The ambulance arrived 10 minutes later. I said, look, just let him go. He’s gone. Just stop doing this to him. He’s dead.”

At the hospital, doctors declared Mr Mills brain dead and asked Mrs Mills if they should attempt resuscitation. “I said, well, how can you? He’s brain dead,” she said.

Mrs Mills has since faced further frustration in seeking answers from the hospital. She said: “I’ve been with Ombudsman at the moment.

“The hospital took two years for them to send me a closing letter, of what had happened and everything.

“I’ve tried to get hold of no fee solicitors, and they’re saying they’re not qualified in that part or it’s not worth taking it on. I don’t have any savings. I can’t pay for a solicitor.

“They just ignored me for two years. How can you do that?

“I’ve had to borrow money too, which I’m still paying back to friends that have helped me. I’ve not even cried for him yet. I want closure.”

In a statement, the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire’s Chief Nurse, Julie Hogg, said: “We offer our sincere condolences to Mrs Mills on the loss of her husband. We apologise where his care did not meet the standards we expect and would like to assure her that we carried out a detailed investigation and have addressed all of the learning from his care.

“We will continue to offer any support, explanation, and guidance we can to her following her tragic loss.”