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Penny Campbell |
Docs in the clear over blunders
Woman journalist died after repeated misdiagnosis
DOCTORS who repeatedly misdiagnosed an Islington journalist who later died will not
be disciplined.
An investigation into the death of Penny Campbell and the failings of Camidoc, the out-of-hours GP service contracted to Islington Primary Care Trust (PCT) that assessed her, is published today (Friday).
Ms Campbell’s partner, Angus Mackinnon, may now sue some of the doctors involved, and possibly Camidoc.
The 41-year-old associate editor of Time magazine, from Danbury Street, Angel, died in March 2005 after a series of bungled diagnoses and, ultimately, multiple-organ failure caused by septicaemia.
Ms Campbell had eight separate consultations with doctors, six on the telephone and two in person.
Key findings from the investigation include:
* That of the eight doctors, six provided “reasonable” care, one did not and the other “cannot be adequately assessed in retrospect”.* That Camidoc should consider appointing a medical director and getting independent clinical risk management advice.
* Poor medical notes kept on paper, not computer, were a “direct factor” leading to Ms Campbell’s death.
* Those doctors involved should meet the PCT’s medical director – but they won’t be fired.
* PCT and Camidoc chiefs “regret” that an immediate investigation was not carried out.
Everything happened over the long Easter weekend of 2005 following Ms Campbell having routine surgical procedure at the London Independent Hospital.
During the weekend, Ms Campbell repeatedly called her local out-of-hours service provided by Camidoc after feeling unwell.
An inquest at Poplar Coroner’s Court last October heard she was diagnosed with a number of minor illnesses, including food poisoning, flu and colic.
Ms Campbell was assessed by doctors working for Camidoc, an not-for-profit co-operative commissioned by Islington Primary Care Trust for its out-of-hours work.
The investigation report states: “None of the Camidoc GPs identified the signs or symptoms that would have suggested a diagnosis of septicaemia, a very uncommon complication of this procedure that few GPs would expect to see in their lifetime.”
Camidoc is a GP co-operative established in 1996 and contracted to four PCTs, including Islington, to “provide urgent care” out of hours.
The investigation was undertaken independently and overseen by a 10-member panel consisting of Camidoc and PCT executives.
It was also noted that many of the organisational failings by Camidoc and the PCTs locally were reflective of national problems within the health service.
Panel executives agreed with the majority of the comments made by the investigators.
Mr MacKinnon, a sports reporter who was Ms Campbell’s partner for 20 years, has been “shattered” by her death.
He said: “I think it is regrettable that despite the failings highlighted in the report these doctors are allowed to continue practising.
“The report is quite hard-hitting in terms of confirming what I knew about Camidoc being a shambles at the time of Penny’s death and it still is.”
Mr MacKinnon added: “I am still considering the possibility of suing Camidoc as well as individual doctors.”
A Camidoc spokesman said: “The investigation into the death of Penny Campbell, and the subsequent panel report, has identified a number of recommendations to further improve the service we provide. We accept and will deliver all of the recommendations, many of which we are already in the process of implementing. The report acknowledges the significant progress Camidoc has made in upgrading technology, and implementing enhanced procedures since March 2005.
Rachel Tyndall, chief executive of Islington PCT, said: “There were failings in her care and the systems to guarantee quality. The health service will respond to these. Islington PCT recognises the importance of out-of-hours services and is determined to learn lessons from this; we have already, and will continue, to do things differently as a result. A case like this must never happen again.” |
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