A 32-year-old lorry driver from Seaham, County Durham, has died weeks after undergoing NHS weight loss surgery, with his family alleging he suffered from a fatal stomach leak and received undignified care. Wayne Clarke, described as a 'gentle giant,' underwent a gastric bypass at Sunderland Royal Hospital on December 3 last year to address obesity and type two diabetes. However, his condition worsened post-operation, leading to multiple surgeries to repair a stomach leak before his death on January 7.
Family's Account of Suffering
Clarke's sister, Mel, expressed the family's devastation, stating that their daughter, aged nine, adored her uncle and that explaining his death has been challenging. She claimed Clarke 'suffered so much' and that the family seeks accountability for his treatment. Mel alleged that her brother was not taken seriously when he felt he was dying, and their concerns were dismissed by hospital staff. She recounted an incident where staff accused Clarke of recording them on his phone, which she described as distressing given his rapid decline.
Claims of Inadequate Care
Mel's husband, Stu, who works in care alongside Mel, criticized the lack of compassion and empathy in the intensive care unit. He claimed that after reviewing medical records, there was an instance where Clarke was labeled 'rude' to staff after being left alone in his own faeces for at least half an hour. Stu emphasized that Clarke was a young man in pain, desperate and declining fast, and questioned the staff's response. The family also alleges they were 'robbed of precious hours' with Clarke before his death, as they were not informed of his worsening condition during the night.
Legal Action and Trust Response
Lawyers from Slater and Gordon have lodged a 26-point complaint over Clarke's care. Rebecca Hall, representing the family, stated that Clarke hoped the surgery would be life-enhancing, but the tragedy has rightly prompted questions about what went wrong. She noted that families are too often dismissed by medics, compounding their devastation. A spokesperson for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust expressed sincere condolences and confirmed an in-depth response has been shared with the family. An inquest into Clarke's death is expected later this year.
