A Perth pensioner has told of her three-year battle to uncover the truth about her husband’s death following complications after a routine surgical procedure.
Former sales manager, Raymond Gunnion, died at Perth Royal Infirmary in November 2007, when he rapidly deteriorated following lung surgery designed to give him a better quality of life.
The 76-year-old never returned home from hospital following the operation, which took place at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary more than a month before his death.
Already worried about the standard of post-operative care, his wife Irene began inquiries into the affair, turning up details she would never otherwise have known.
Mrs Gunnion said, “My husband was an intelligent gentleman who honoured and valued transparency. He was most reluctant to agree to the surgical procedure, primarily because of his senior years.
“He believed as one does in the doctors who deemed him perfectly fit and placed his trust in them. I say he was deceived.”
Mrs Gunnion said she discovered through a Freedom of Information request her husband had underlying medical issues of which he was unaware and which would have better informed his decision to go ahead with the surgery.
“I was stunned to read after his demise that Raymond had not been fit he had an aneurism of the abdominal aorta containing extensive thrombus, a condition withheld from my husband, as was a degree or renal impairment.
“My husband had the human right to be furnished with all pre-existing medical conditions. Post surgery, for some reason, he could not swallow without sickness and was unable to eat or drink.
“He lost two stone in weight in four weeks and no investigations were undertaken and sips of liquid were given to Raymond by myself. It was obscene.Charade”Raymond knew he was finished and said as much to me many times. He left me in no doubt as to his feelings about the whole charade.”
Her ordeal continued after Mr Gunnion’s death, however, as she explained.
“I was informed of the need for a post mortem the morning of my husband’s demise because of the sudden death combined with the recent surgery.
“It made sense, and I welcomed the news believing it might give me an insight and understanding of what went wrong for Raymond.
“However, again from medical records, I gained information which shook me to the core the post mortem did not take place, although I believed it had.”
With concerns over the actions of the NHS in both Lothian and Tayside, Mrs Gunnion eventually took her fight to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
After an initial investigation that she found unsatisfactory, she got the result she hoped for on the second attempt when recommendations were made on tightening up procedures.
She now hopes her tale will serve as an inspiration to others.
She said, “My ultimate goal since 2007 was to reach the public, thus honouring my husband’s memory, and I believe I have achieved what I set out to do.
“Raymond and I were pragmatic and we understood life is not forever, but his end of life care disturbs me. Nevertheless, I believe this journey was necessary not just for me, but can serve as a learning curve for others, and I have no regrets.”
She thanked those who had helped her over the past three years, including clinicians, the Scotland Patients Association and staff at the Edinburgh Patient Information Centre.