Postman died just after remote GP missed signs and symptoms, inquest hears

The devastated family of a postman discovered useless in his van have hit out at the deficiency of experience to facial area appointments on the NHS just after an inquest read the lethal condition that killed him was misdiagnosed by a GP more than the mobile phone.

James Dow died just after suffering serious blood loss when on obligation when an ulcer on his foot ruptured, a coroner was explained to.

The inquest read that many weeks right before his dying, the 61-yr-previous experienced had a cellphone consultation with a medical professional who reported he most likely experienced gout.

His family members now say that he could however be with them today if he had been able to see the GP confront-to-encounter as the health practitioner would have been in a position to see actual physical proof she had acquired the prognosis incorrect.

Postman James Dow (correct) was located lifeless in his van right after struggling critical blood reduction when an ulcer on his foot ruptured, a coroner was advised

Mr Dow handed away though several surgical procedures have been restricting experience to deal with appointments due to Covid

A month just before Mr Dow died in Oct 2021, the Day-to-day Mail launched a marketing campaign to get sufferers again in the home with GPs amid fears lifetime-threatening illnesses could be missed subsequent the popular introduction of phone consultations through the coronavirus pandemic.

At the inquest, loved ones health care provider Elizabeth Anne Wilson – now retired – reported she would have observed Mr Dow had an ulcer if she had found him in particular person but that above the telephone he experienced not explained his indicators thoroughly.

Mr Dow’s younger son Jamie, 23, who performs in construction, reported: ‘It was not a analysis – she stated “let’s go with gout”. It is far more of a guess than a diagnosis.

‘The indicators of gout had been not what he described to her.’

Mr Dow’s eldest son Theo, 26, an electrician, said: ‘The reality is that he was not viewed by a health care provider and he was identified on the cellular phone.

‘The outcome would have been diverse if he experienced long gone into the medical procedures as she have been in a position to see it. They didn’t do their position.’

Mr Dow handed away although lots of surgical procedures have been proscribing encounter to deal with appointments owing to Covid.

The inquest in Winchester, Hampshire, in November was instructed that only 3 months prior to his demise, Mr Dow had a mobile phone session with Dr Wilson, of his nearby Ringwood Medical Follow, as he was struggling swelling in his still left foot and leg.

Afterwards, he told his relatives the medical professional had said ‘let’s go with gout’ – a sickness he experienced earlier experienced with.

Dr Wilson – who experienced 34 years’ expertise as a loved ones health practitioner – told the inquest that Mr Dow experienced unsuccessful to point out the ulcer on his foot or the brown discolouration of his pores and skin he had noticed.

The ex-GP explained to the inquest: ‘During [the] Covid pandemic [the] NHS instructed all GPs to evaluate sufferers originally remotely.’

Mr Dow’s eldest son Theo, 26, (remaining) an electrician, mentioned: ‘The point is that he was not observed by a physician and he was identified on the telephone. The final result would have been diverse if he experienced gone into the surgical treatment as she have been ready to see it. They didn’t do their position.’

She reported that if she had been instructed about the ulcer or discolouration, she might have asked for he send a photograph and e-book a encounter-to-experience appointment.

Questioned why she experienced not requested for a photograph, Dr Wilson replied: ‘He did not point out the variations to the color of his foot – he mentioned no ulcers or discolouration. I can only act on the data I’m being presented by the client.’

She included: ‘Some ulcers can be fairly unpleasant. I have never ever identified a patient with an ulcer on their foot or leg not to explain to the doctor that’s what they have.’

Dr Wilson claimed that throughout a stick to-up cell phone session, Mr Dow informed her the swelling experienced ‘settled’ and made no mention of the ulcer or discolouration.

His spouse Nina Dow, 54, informed the inquest that on the working day her partner died he had ‘for the 1st time ever’ arrive household to his property in Ringwood for a cup of coffee when on his route, but designed no mention of his foot pain to her.

He was found lifeless in his van by a member of the community only a number of hrs later.

A convoy of Royal Mail vans (pictured over) took aspect in Mr Dow’s funeral procession.

Coroner Jason Pegg said that Mr Dow’s dying was induced by the 2cm ulcer on his still left foot which ruptured and prompted serious blood reduction.

A pathologist’s report explained that the ulcer was 3mm from an artery, which may possibly have exacerbated the blood decline when the ulcer ruptured.

At the inquest, the coroner explained: ‘(Mr Dow) didn’t report the discolouration to the physician. I never know why he selected not to tell the health care provider.

‘Might be, from what we heard, mainly because he was fairly a stoic specific.’

Mr Dow’s telephone consultation was held on September 27, 2021.

England had still left lockdown by this time, but it remained complicated for a lot of patients to book experience-to-face appointments to see their GPs.

Worries were lifted about the lack of in-individual appointments, with gurus and sufferers fearing that the shift would impact negatively on people’s entry to sufficient health care.

James’s household say he could nevertheless be with them if he experienced been in a position to see the GP experience-to-facial area as the medical doctor would have been able to see physical proof that she experienced got the diagnosis wrong. Pictured: His widow, Nina Dow

The Dow relatives say they are involved that other folks are not receiving the ‘duty of care’ they should have because of to a lack of confront-to-experience consultations.

Mrs Dow mentioned: ‘The physician did not see his foot. Anybody could see a thing was incorrect with it – it was swollen and multi-coloured.

‘(The health practitioner) stated she would have identified an ulcer. What she explained as gout was not what James experienced.

‘At the inquest, it was blamed on James and they reported that he didn’t describe it adequately. Had he absent into the medical professional limping, then she would have identified an ulcer.’

She added: ‘People are not obtaining the care they want as properly as the diagnoses. There is no duty of care.

‘It’s occurring to other folks – folks are not getting the therapy they want.’

Theo explained: ‘All by Covid, the reality that people today were not noticed – I am absolutely sure people today had problems that were being not identified. Medical doctors however have a responsibility of care.

‘In her personal words and phrases, (the medical professional) said the ulcer would have been noticeable. She would have identified what it was.

‘We want individuals to know what took place and the main point is the misdiagnosis.’

A convoy of Royal Mail vans took component in Mr Dow’s funeral procession.

Jamie mentioned: ‘All his colleagues reported he really favored (his position). He knew all of his clients there ended up persons stood outside as we went about his route.’