Sarah Young

(1) Although Sarah was referred to the Medical Team at 20:00 on 9 April 2019 whilst she still in the Emergency Department awaiting the CT venogram, she was never seen by them. The evidence to the Inquest from the Medical Registrar on call that evening was that “if a decision to admit to ITU is made, an immediate or urgent medical review is not required, as the patient is under the direct care of the ITU team” yet the evidence from one of the ITU Consultants in charge of her care was that the ITU Team do rely on the Medical Team to assist in progressing a diagnosis( including involving a Neurologist where required) and that it was a matter of regret for him that there had not been more Medical advice in this case; (2) Although the Neurosurgical Team had advised the Bedford Emergency Department Team at 19.45 hours on 9 April 2019 that a Neurological opinion should be sought alongside the CT venogram, such opinion was not sought until 16.15 hours on 10 April 2019 (the following day) and, even then, only after further prompting from the Neurosurgical Team. The Inquest heard that a Neurological opinion was likely to have involved immediate consultation with the on-call Neuroradiologist which would have resulted in a much earlier diagnosis and treatment of the Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis; (3) The Inquest heard that referrals to the Bedford Neurologist (only available during Monday - Friday working hours) are not always picked up through the standard referral system and often require personal 1:1 contact between clinicians.