Can I contact the hospital to find out why he died?

[meerschweinchen]

I'm not really sure where the best place to post this is, or even if it makes sense.
My lovely Dad died a year ago, very suddenly. He was diagnosed with cancer, it came completely out of the blue, as I suppose it sadly does for many people. We knew it wasn't curable, but the hospital said they could offer trestment, chemo etc. He'd been in hospital for tests, which was when he was diagnosed, but then he was allowed home. A week after diagnosis, he died of pneumonia. The bit I don't understand is why it was so sudden. He'd been back to the hospital the day before he died, and they'd listened to his chest etc and said he was fine.
I just don't really understand what happened. I'm not trying to blame anyone, and in many ways people have said that at least it was quick, he was spared chemo etc. But it's still hard, and I still wanted him to have longer here.

So, my question is, can I get in touch with the hospital now and find out more? Or is there nothing more to really know? I know my Mum wouldn't want to ask more. After Dad died, she kept saying she'd ask the hospital, but never did, and I certainly didn't feel I could keep asking, when she was already so upset. But can I ask? Would anyone talk to me? Or is it too late or confidential information that can't be shared with just anyone who asks?

Sorry, I'm aware this is a bit of a ramble and long- winded, but has anyone been in this sort of situation or maybe someone who works in a hospital would know?

Thymeout no there is nothing that could have been done to save her but i just can't understand how at 4pm the doc said she has a bleed from somewhere, they gave her a blood transfusion to 'top her up' but seemed to have no idea she had the aneurysm, it wasn't even mentioned. She displayed all the symptoms when i resarched it after she passed. She was begging them to help her get off her back, when i googled this is a side effect. Nothing was mentioned not even a a possability. I tried to move her but i couldn't, i was begging them to move her but they wouldn't so she lay on her back for hours. When i asked what happend they were very vague ermm we are not sure it looks like a massive heart attack. I find it worrying she went in at 2pm and at 11.30pm they had no idea what was wrong and would scan her the next day. The hospital in questiong was under investigation for having one of the worst death rate in a&e in the country hence the postmortem

Nothing could have saved her but i just think should the hospital in all of thoses hrs she was there not have some inkling that is what was wrong and maybe they could have said shes in grave danger to us instead of all the positive things they were saying, she will feel much better after the blood, she will be going up onto the ward, ring up in the morning and we will tell you where she is, don't worry about your back, its this bed we will get you into a proper bed and she will feel better in the morning. I just feel really uneasy about it and have concerns the second doc didn't have a clue what had went on with the 1st doc

they also told my mam to glove up to help take blood from her groin, when he asked i was a bit , He asked her to pull her stomach over so he could get into the area to take the blood

theres nothing showing the time of death, my mam registered the death but it didnt say

I will ring the bereavement dept on Monday and see how i go about getting more info Thanks for the info

I'm sorry for all your losses .

I think they say to get there quick as if they tell you on the phone your relative had died you might not be in a fit state to drive safely.

Thank you OP for the flowers x

Sorry to read of these losses.

Fifi - - you can ask for more information but I suspect the answer re your mum being asked to help will be that the doctor felt that your nan would have preferred to have only one person she didn't know fishing around in the groin area. Of course some people would really not like a relative to help with that. For most people though it is preferred and is better than waiting for an unknown nurse to be free. Regarding the overall diagnosis etc, A&E docs don't always have access to the full notes immediately which is partly why you have to repeat stuff so much. This also allows them to continually assess the patient's state of consciousness etc. I am not a doctor but I think that a 89 year old lady admitted with history of fall, unwell, anaemic, previous treatment for cancer would be a patient who it's quite hard to diagnose immediately. There are a lot of possibilities. Aneurysm is only one of those but is I believe far more common in men than women. I'm sure that the doctors involved would be happy to explain their thinking to you though. Very sorry you had such a shock when she died.

My Dad went into hospital at 2.30 Saturday afternoon was let home 5pm Sunday eve and died 2 am the next morning. He had been fine on the Friday no warning of this at all. I got copies of post-mortem and asked for his hospital notes. This happened in September we still don't know why. Devastated as he was only 74. You never get over it.