By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 10:46, Saturday, 31 October 2009

The husband of a woman who died after suffering from acute alcohol withdrawal believes she was given too high levels of sedatives.

Related: Cumbrian woman died after suffering severe alcohol withdrawal effects - inquest

John Heron was speaking at an inquest yesterday into the death of his wife Yvonne Heron.

Mrs Heron, 49, was admitted to the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, suffering from acute alcohol withdrawal on July 6, 2006. Six days later she suffered a cardio-respiratory arrest, which eventually led to her death.

The inquest, which continues on Monday, heard that Mrs Heron, of Daleclose, Egremont, was admitted to hospital suffering severe effects of alcohol withdrawal.

She suffered two seizures and was prescribed a drug called Chlordiazepoxide, given to addicts to wean them off alcohol, initially on a low dose.

During her stay on Gable ward she became increasingly agitated, confused and aggressive as a result of her illness. She tried to leave the ward and refused to take her medication. Consultant psychiatrist Bert Lazlo, was called in to assess her.

She was sectioned under the mental health act for her own safety, but could not be moved into psychiatric care as she was too ill. He authorised an increased dosage.

Dr Jonathan Hardman, an anaethesia specialist in Nottingham, said via video link she had been “excessively sedated." Shortly afterwards she had a cardiac arrest and was resuscitated. He said it was apparent she had suffered substantial brain damage, probably during the cardiac arrest.

He added that “the most likely explanation for Mrs Heron’s cardiac arrest was the excessive Chlordiazepoxide dosage leading to sedation. It appears the dosage was increased up to five times the standard dose as published by the Royal College of Physicians to levels representing chemical restraint.”

But he admitted that it was difficult to say whether this was the only reason for her cardiac arrest and death.

In the report he questioned whether it was appropriate for Mrs Heron to be cared for on a general medical ward rather than a psychiatric ward where staff would have been familiar with sedation and agitation. He also questioned whether it was appropriate for her to be cared for in a side room.

Serena Saiger, former assistant director of nursing, North Cumbria university hospitals NHS trust, told the inquest that there had been no official protocall in place at the time of Mrs Heron’s admission to deal with patients in a similar position.

But she added that since Mrs Heron’s death a document had been developed between the mental health trust and the acute trust to deal with future incidents.

First published at 09:11, Saturday, 31 October 2009
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk