THE family of a woman who died following an operation at Altnagelvin Hospital have said they believe more could have been done to prevent her death.
Amanda Curran (34), of Glenvale Park in Derry, was found unresponsive at her home in May 2015, four days after an operation to remove gallstones.
A post-mortem found that she died from a massive blood clot in a lung artery, and an inquest into her death last month heard a pathologist conclude the fatal clot was the result of Ms Curran's "relative immobility" following surgery.
She had been identified as at risk of the potentially fatal venous thromboembolism due to her obesity, yet despite this the inquest found “no discharge advice regarding the potential for thromboembolism or any other complications was provided”.
As a result when she left hospital, instead of keeping active to reduce the risk of complications, she stayed in bed for a number of days to recover.
Speaking to the Irish News, Amanda’s sister Cathy Doherty said she suffered pain for weeks before finally being scheduled for surgery.
Following her operation, Amanda was told she could go home and arranged collection from Altnagelvin, but left before further consultation over minimising the risks of developing blood clots.
The hospital provided anti-coagulation medication and stockings designed to prevent deep vein thrombosis after the surgery, but no advice was given on minimising further complications before she was discharged.
"Had she been given this advice, she would have stayed mobile and walked around as much as she could, and she might still be with us today," Ms Doherty said.
The inquest heard how Amanda spent her final days in bed in an attempt to recuperate, but was found unresponsive on May 22 and died later in hospital.
“My sister would have done anything for anybody, and our family will never get over her death, which came just 10 months after we lost our mother,” Ms Doherty said.
A spokesman for the Western Health and Social Care Trust told The Irish News they could not comment on individual cases.