A woman has shared the heartbreaking story of how her partner was sent home from A&E with Gaviscon, only to tragically pass away days later from a severe condition she believes is frequently overlooked.
David Burgess, 52, from Sale in Greater Manchester, suddenly fell ill on April 24 this year, experiencing intense pain in his stomach and back. The legal recruitment consultant, who was known as healthy, diligent and “tough”, had seldom needed medical attention before.
The following day, his partner Sandra O’Hagan, 56, took him to Wythenshawe Hospital’s A&E. There, he was diagnosed with gastritis – inflammation of the stomach lining – and advised to take Gaviscon.
He was discharged the same day.
Sandra stated: “Because it’s a doctor you think, well, it must be right. It can’t be that serious or they wouldn’t be sending him home. Looking back you think, why did we trust them? But you just do.”
David’s symptoms continued over the next few days. He found it difficult to eat, lacked energy and his breathing worsened.
On May 1, six days after his initial visit, he returned to A&E. Tests revealed he was suffering from aortic dissection – a tear in the body’s main artery, which carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
He was immediately taken into surgery, but doctors warned his chances of survival were merely 30%. After two major operations, his condition further declined.
His heart and organs began to fail and a brain scan showed he had suffered several mini strokes.
On May 10, encircled by Sandra, his parents and beloved family members, the devastating decision was taken to switch off his life support.
Sandra said: “I just thought, how can this be happening? He went to A&E nearly a week ago and they sent him home. It was so unexpected – like a nightmare. On his final day we were all there. They told us it would be cruel to keep trying as they had done everything they could.”
The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust states that approximately 2,000 people annually perish from the condition in the UK, with roughly one in three cases being misdiagnosed.
The charity maintains that 10 lives could be preserved every week if the condition was identified sooner.
Sandra is now pursuing legal action against Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, with backing from solicitors Enable Law.
She is also campaigning to heighten awareness of the condition, which she describes as “flying under the radar”.
She added: “With David, when they sent him away, that was it – that was his only chance. He had to be diagnosed there and then to survive. People need to know about this condition and doctors need to be better trained to spot it.”
Paying tribute, Sandra portrayed David as compassionate, clever and humorous.
An avid vinyl enthusiast and occasional cyclist, he adored his career and “never took a day off”. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust expressed: “We offer our sincere condolences to Mr Burgess’s family and friends. We are undertaking a review of his care and will share the findings with his family and the coroner.”
