Mother-of-four, 43, died after deliberate surgical procedure was cancelled 3 times eventually minute – as coroner says she would have survived if handled earlier

A mother who died after a planned surgery was cancelled three times would have survived had she been treated earlier, a coroner had said.

Karen Dack was booked for operations at the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) in April and May this year, however, each procedure was called off due to a lack of theatre capacity.

Ms Dack, from Melton, Leics, ended up having an urgent operation when her condition deteriorated but she developed sepsis and died after the procedure, an inquest heard.

Leicester assistant coroner Diane Hocking said the evidence she heard showed Ms Dack would have survived had she been operated on sooner.

Ms Dack’s partner, Emmi Akamo, said she had been failed ‘multiple times’ by the hospital.

The 40-year-old told the BBC: ‘She should still be here with us. We were told it was a routine thing, keyhole procedure and that is why it really hurts.

‘Each time she was in hospital ready for the operation, doing nil-by-mouth, only for it to be called off.

‘She was a great mother, full of life and love, and she just wanted to get her health sorted.’

Karen Dack, pictured, was booked for operations at the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) in April and May this year, however, each procedure was called off due to a lack of theatre capacity

Ms Dack’s partner, Emmi Akamo, pictured, said she had been failed ‘multiple times’ by the hospital

Despite the death, a hospital boss told a coroner there were no plans for theatre expansions.

In a Prevention of Future Deaths report Mrs Hocking said she fears ‘this issue will happen again, and further deaths may occur’.

The report which was welcomed by the family, described how the mother of four was suffering symptoms of stricture and obstruction of the bowel.

She was admitted to the LRI’s emergency department in April, but urgent surgery didn’t happen as ‘there were no intensive care beds and her condition had appeared to have resolved’, the report said.

A fast-tracked operation was planned for May 17, but she was taken to LRI’s emergency department on May 2. Another procedure was planned but then deferred for ‘more urgent’ cases.

The report goes on to say that a consultant had planned to operate Ms Dack the following day but this wasn’t communicated clearly and she was discharged and told to return for elective surgery as previously planned on May 17.

But just days later, she returned to the infirmary suffering from abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Once again, a surgery planned for May 7 didn’t happen due to the number of operations already scheduled.

The coroner heard from a senior clinical director at the LRI who said there had been a review of how patients are prioritised for operations

The coroner went on to say that the patient’s condition continued to deteriorate on May 8 probably because of bowel perforation and Ms Dack died of sepsis despite surgeons’ attempts to save her.

The coroner heard from a senior clinical director at the LRI who said there had been a review of how patients are prioritised for operations.

But he said there were ‘no immediate plans’ for theatre expansion at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust (UHL), which runs the LRI, and that the categorisation and access to emergency theatres ‘are probably as good as they can get’ with the currently available resources.

Mrs Hocking’s report added: ‘I am concerned that whilst UHL is doing its utmost to deal with this problem, the fact is that regardless of how patients are categorised, there are still the same number of theatres available and that this issue will happen again, and further deaths may occur.’

The report has been sent to the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) which has been asked to set out how it will address her concerns.

A further statement from Ms Dack’s family said: ‘Karen was a beloved mother, daughter, sister, and friend whose death was entirely preventable.

‘We hope her tragic loss drives urgent reforms to ensure no other family endures such a devastating outcome.’

The DHSC said it would respond to the coroner in due course and was committed to reducing operation waiting times.

A DHSC spokesperson added: ‘Our deepest sympathies are with Karen’s family and friends in this tragic case.’

Gang Xu, UHL’s deputy medical director, said: ‘We extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Karen Dack.

‘We acknowledge the findings of the coroners’ report and are awaiting a response from the Department for Health and Social Care.’