Probe as ill woman dies after being sent on 350-mile taxi trip The family of a have 79-year-old woman who died after a hotel sent her home 350 miles by taxi when she became ill have called for answers over the move.
Norma Francis lost consciousness after the journey from Loch Achray Hotel in the Trossachs, Scotland to her home in Gnosall, Stafford, and died later in hospital.
She was said to have been suffering from severe gastric illness-related symptoms, but a coroner in England is expected to rule on the cause of death in October.
The woman's family has instructed public health lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate her stay at Loch Achray Hotel, booked through tour operator Lochs and Glens Holidays.
The law firm claims the hotel appears to have disregarded guidelines from NHS Health Scotland, which advises those suffering from the illness to stay indoors and away from others until 48 hours after their symptoms cease.
A spokesman for Lochs and Glens Holidays, which paid the private hire car fare but declined to outline the cost, said it could not provide details of what happened ahead of the investigation.
Anne Francis, Norma’s daughter, said: “I feel like the hotel couldn’t wait to get rid of her despite the fact that she clearly wasn’t well enough to travel.
“We’re devastated that we have lost her and that her last days were so distressing.
"We just want to know why the decision to send her home was made and whether anything could have been done to prevent her death.
“I don’t want anyone else being put in the same dreadful position as my mum was.”
Norma Francis and husband John, 81, arrived at Loch Achray Hotel by coach on Tuesday, April 3 but two days later, she began to suffer with symptoms of gastric illness, gradually growing worse throughout the day.
It is claimed the hotel manager informed them staff were arranging a taxi to take them the 350-mile journey home.
The couple left the hotel three days after arriving with Mrs Francis sleeping for much of the journey.
When they arrived home, she could not be roused from her sleep and an ambulance was called.
Paramedics arrived and immediately began CPR on the mother-of-two who never regained consciousness.
She died at County Hospital in Stafford next day.
A post mortem examination revealed that Norma had contracted norovirus.
The circumstances of her death are being investigated and an inquest into Norma’s death will be held at South Staffordshire Coroner’s Court on Thursday, October 13 this year.
Clare Comiskey, a public health lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, said: “Norma and John booked their seven-day stay at Loch Achray Hotel to enjoy a relaxing break, never imagining it could have ended in such tragedy.
“Now Norma’s family just want to know if anything could have been done differently to prevent her death and whether there are any lessons to be learned which may prevent what happened to Norma happening to anyone else.”
Neil Wells, Managing Director for Lochs and Glens, said: “We were deeply saddened when we learned that Mrs Francis had passed away. As this is still being investigated it would be inappropriate for us to comment any further at this stage.”
source:
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/1469 ... taxi_trip/
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