Family hopes mother's neglect death leads to change

The family of a woman who died after failures in her care have called for lasting change following the publication of a prevention of future deaths report.

Eunice Brookes, from Carlton in Lindrick, Nottinghamshire, was 82 when she was admitted to Bassetlaw hospital on 3 September 2025 with severe abdominal pain and vomiting.

Her family said they had concerns about her care but her condition deteriorated before she died five days later.

Her daughter Gail said: "Mum walked into hospital. Over the next few days we watched her become more and more unwell. She was in terrible pain and we knew something was seriously wrong. We kept raising concerns, but nothing changed."

On Tuesday, the assistant coroner for Nottinghamshire, Dr Elizabeth Didcock, issued a prevention of future deaths report - a notice by coroners to highlight areas where action is needed to stop similar deaths - to Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

At the inquest in July, Didcock concluded neglect contributed to Brookes's death.

She identified serious failures in fluid balance monitoring, pain management, recognising deterioration and obtaining senior surgical review.

She also found that despite raising concerns, family members "were not listened to or believed".

The coroner found the blockage and twisting of Brookes's hiatus hernia had not been recognised and treated as it should have been, concluding that had this happened "on balance she would not have died when she did".

Her daughter Tracey said: "Good basic care should never be something patients or families have to fight for.

"We need to see real, lasting improvements so that other patients don't go through what mum did."

Nick Mallaband, chief medical officer at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals, which runs Bassetlaw hospital, said: "I am very sorry for the failures in Eunice's care and the distress caused to her family, whose concerns should have been heard and acted upon. We accept the coroner's findings.

"We have strengthened consultant cover, improved pain management and provided additional education for colleagues.

"We are addressing fluid monitoring and the recognition of deterioration, and have put arrangements in place for patients at Bassetlaw Hospital to be assessed on site by the surgical team, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"Eunice's family has made a significant contribution to this work by developing two films sharing their experience, now widely used in training.

"To strengthen this further, we adopted Martha's Rule this summer, giving patients and families another way to request an independent review if someone's condition is worsening and their concerns are not being addressed.

"We remain committed to working closely with Eunice's family and ensuring these changes deliver measurable, lasting improvements in care."

Listen to BBC Radio Nottingham on Sounds and follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.