To question death cert ..

[Offthexmaslist]

Just to be absolutely clear from the start.. I would NEVER sue the NHS it goes against everything I believe in...

However I am really uncomfortable with this ..

My mum died in June .. cause of death was not anything she has ever had .. think diabetes .. never had it . No medication.. no appointments, just nothing.. she died of sepsis.. due to lack of care .. no blame to a ward who had 4 nurses trying to care for 60 patients.. feels like a fudge for stats

Dad died last week .. again the cause of death was fudged .. he died from COVID.. if he hadn't had Covid he would not be dead .. Covid was the massive contributor to his cause of death .. think pneumonia.. with no protocols in place .. so everyone in and out of his room with no checks and no PPE ..

His death is registered as the thing that killed him but would not have happened without Covid.. I want 'hospital acquired Covid on the cert !!

What ever I do will not bring them back . I do not want money . Absolutely not it would make it so much worse..

I want the people (government) to see what happens when you decimate our NHS and leave them without the staff to deal with sick people ..

AIBU to take this to NHS managers .. so they can take it further .. but .. I do not want to take any time from actual clinical people who can help the living ..

First of all, I’m so sorry for your losses, OP.

I agree that it’s important for death certificates and official statistics to
be accurate. Also that patients get appropriate care. Either your mum didn’t have diabetes and the certificate is inaccurate. Or, she did have diabetes and wasn’t treated for it, and was neglected (and this could be criminal in some cases).

It’s one or the other, and it needs to be bottomed out and corrected/lessons learned. I would query it.

She absolutely did not have diabetes.. the GP put the wrong information on my mother's records.. my dad had diabetes.. b mild controlled by diet no meds

I'm so sorry for your loss and then this on top. Absolutely you should question it. But please be reassured, we would never fudge a death certificate. It couldve been written inaccurately from a doctor who didn't know the patient well. The requirements are that the doctor must have met the person when they were alive but that couldve been briefly. We try and get a doctor who was more involved in their care to write one but if they aren't on shift, the certificate still need writing. I'm not a doctor but I am a senior nurse. Please raise it with PALs or contact the consultant who looked after them.

Thank you .. I will do that x