Former RAF officer Desmond Stewart, 84, died on Boxing Day after waiting a week to be transferred despite collapsing twice into unconsciousness following a fall.
During an inquest from 10am today (March 24), his family are hoping for answers.
Desmond with his widow Jeanette Stewart (Image: JMW Solicitors)
His widow Jeanette said: “In the weeks leading up to his death, I am very concerned there were several missed opportunities, delays, poor supervision and clinical errors which I believe amounted an extremely poor overall level of care and significant failings in Desmond’s treatment.”
According to clinical negligence specialist solicitor at JMW Nadia Valentine, which is acting for the family, “it seems that the hospital staff underappreciated the severity of Desmond’s situation, the urgency of it and the need for action”.
Desmond Stewart (Image: JMW Solicitors)
The father of three, grandfather of eight, and great-grandfather of 12 fell at his Watford home on November 28, 2024.
He was discharged after 24 hours’ monitoring after first visiting Watford General Hospital A&E over headaches a few days later, when a scan revealed the haematoma, before returning as it got worse.
Desmond Stewart with his family (Image: JMW Solicitors)
St Mary’s Hospital, which advised the monitoring, said he should be transferred there on a “non-urgent” basis and only once a bed was confirmed when it was found the bleed had grown and his blood pressure was very high during the second visit on December 12.
Desmond Stewart (Image: JMW Solicitors)
With Desmond falling again while in the Watford hospital, he collapsed into unconsciousness twice and was only transferred on Christmas Day.
He died, despite neurosurgical intervention, the next day.
Desmond’s daughter-in-law Mandy said the family welcome the inquest as “an opportunity to finally seek answers”, adding: “We firmly believe that Des was failed at every stage by those entrusted with his care.”
Desmond with his widow Jeanette Stewart (Image: JMW Solicitors)
A spokesperson for West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We extend our deepest sympathies to Mr Stewart’s family and friends at this difficult time. We are fully supporting the inquest process to its conclusion.”
A spokesperson for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs St Mary’s, said: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Mr Stewart’s family. We are doing all we can to support the inquest process.”
Desmond Stewart with his family (Image: JMW Solicitors)