Relatives Instruct Medical Negligence Lawyers To Help Secure Answers

The family of a young mum who died have spoken out after a coroner ruled “serious issues” in her care contributed to her death. 

Jodie McCann, died aged 22, after a breathing tube became dislodged during her care at Queen’s Hospital in Burton-upon-Trent. 

The student nurse, of Newark, Nottinghamshire, had been admitted to intensive care unit from Kingsmill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield after suffering a cardiac arrest while undergoing treatment for gallstone pancreatitis. 

Lawyers support family at inquest into Jodie's death

Jodie has a five-year-old son, Freddie. Following her death Jodie’s family, including mum Sloane Warbrick, 41, instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help secure answers and support them through an inquest. 

Sloane and her legal team at Irwin Mitchell have issued the following statements after an inquest at Nottingham Council House concluded. 

Expert Opinion

“Understandably attempting to come to terms with Jodie’s death and the truly tragic nature of what happened has been incredibly difficult for Sloane and the rest of her family.

“Not knowing all the facts about what happened to Jodie has made trying to grieve for her all the harder. While nothing can make up for the hurt and pain the family are going through, the inquest has been a major milestone in being able to provide Jodie’s loved ones with the vital answers they deserve.

“Sadly the inquest has found areas of concern in the care Jodie received and we urge that lessons are now learned to improve patient safety.

“We continue to support Sloane at this distressing time.” Rosie Charlton

Mum's tribute to daughter and best friend Jodie

Sloane said: “It’s almost impossible to find the words to describe our loss and what the last year has been like without Jodie. Not only was she my eldest child; she was also my best friend. 

“It’s still difficult to try and understand how she went into hospital and never came home. 

“Jodie was beautiful inside and out. She always saw the best in people and went out of her way to help others. That’s why she wanted to become a nurse. 

“There’s not a day goes by where we don’t think of Jodie. Life will never be the same without her. The inquest and listening to the evidence around her death is something no parent should have to go through but it was something I had to do not only for Jodie but for Freddie. 

“That she’s not here to see him grow and won’t get to celebrate life’s milestones is the hardest thing to accept. Jodie would be so proud of Freddie. While he’ll grow up without his mum in his life he’ll always be told how much Jodie loved him and how she’ll always be a part of our family.

“I just hope that by speaking out improvements in care can be made. I wouldn’t wish what our family are going through on anyone.”

Inquest hears evidence around Jodie's care

Jodie, originally from Salford, was admitted to Kingsmill Hospital on 16 March, 2022. However, she suffered a cardiac arrest on 18 March and was resuscitated after 17 minutes. She had a breathing tube inserted and was put on ventilator. The coroner said Jodie’s cardiac arrest was likely caused by her airway becoming obstructed by a combination of pain relief which affected her breathing, the pain and stress of her gallstone pancreatitis and her raised BMI. 

Jodie was admitted to intensive care before being transferred to Queen’s Hospital on 22 March.

Six days later medics tried to bring Jodie off the ventilator. However, she started struggling to breathe for herself. A decision to re-insert a breathing tube and put Jodie on a ventilator was taken. 

The inquest was told that the procedure was difficult and that Jodie suffered a further short period of hypoxia – when she was starved of oxygen - and trauma to her upper airway. 

In the early hours of 2 April, the breathing tube became displaced. Medics struggled to re-insert it and establish an airway. Jodie was pronounced dead just before 6am after suffering two more cardiac arrests. 

Coroner raises concerns over hospital care

Coroner Dr Elizabeth Didcock, found that there were “serious issues of care” and that there was no individualised airway plan for Jodie.  The correct equipment was not available and there was a delay in contacting a consultant anaesthetist when Jodie’s breathing tube was displaced, she added.

The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion, that on the balance of probabilities, Jodie would have lived if her breathing tube had been successfully reinserted following the incident on 2 April.  She died following a prolonged cardiac arrest caused by a lack of oxygen when her breathing tube became displaced.

Dr Didcock said she planned on issuing a prevention of future deaths report calling on University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Queens Hospital, to set out what improvements it would take to improve care. 

Find out more about our expertise in supporting families with concerns about medical care at our dedicated medical negligence section. Alternatively to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500 100.