Mum's iPhone Photo Revealed Critical ECG Clue After Fatal Heart Disease Misdiagnosis
Tracey McGrann, a 54-year-old mother of three from Birkenhead, tragically passed away in May 2024 just hours after celebrating a friend's birthday at a local pub. Her daughter Alisha, then aged 16, discovered her mother lifeless in bed, a devastating blow coming only four months after the family lost Tracey's husband to severe pneumonia.
Missed Warning Signs and Hospital Discharge
Three months prior to her death, Tracey visited St Catherine's Health Centre reporting chest pain symptoms. After undergoing an electrocardiogram (ECG), she received a text message instructing her to present immediately at Arrowe Park Hospital's Accident and Emergency department.
"My mum was someone who was scared of dying and terrified of hospitals, so for her to pluck up the courage and go was huge," shared her daughter Leah. Following another ECG in the emergency department, Tracey photographed the results on her mobile phone before being discharged from the hospital.
Discovery of the Critical iPhone Photo
After Tracey's sudden death, Leah discovered a "memory" notification on her mother's former iPhone that displayed the ECG photograph taken during the hospital visit. The image revealed the reading: "moderate T-wave abnormality, consider anterior ischemia."
"I feel like my mum was watching over me and she sent that memory to me so that I would see it," Leah explained. "The text message she received from her GP instructing her to go to A&E was sent on the same day. It all matched, and it even flagged up 'consider ischemia', which they did not."
Hospital Trust Admission and Legal Proceedings
Leah contacted medical negligence solicitor Rachel Donovan of JF Law, leading to a consultation with directors of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. During the meeting, trust representatives acknowledged that the ECG should have been signed electronically but contained no signature.
"They explained that they don't keep copies of ECG results so there was no paper trail," Leah stated. "The only way this was caught was because my mum took a photo of her reading at the time. If a doctor had signed the ECG off then at least we would've known who was to blame."
One director admitted that if he had been on duty that night, Tracey would have been admitted and transferred directly to cardiology. The inquest determined Tracey's death resulted from ischaemic heart disease (IHD), a condition that narrows the arteries.
Broader NHS Negligence Context
This case emerges against a backdrop of significant medical negligence claims against NHS trusts. Fresh figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests reveal that NHS trusts nationwide have settled more than £1.2 billion in misdiagnosis-related claims over the past six years.
Between 2019/20 and 2024/25, nearly 10,000 misdiagnosis claims were filed against NHS trusts in England, with 7,500 resolved and compensation awarded. The financial burden has increased substantially, reaching £265,929,667 in the 2024/25 financial year alone.
Family Impact and Ongoing Case
Tracey's death has created a domino effect on her family. Leah, who was 23 at the time, assumed custody of her teenage sister, abandoned her life in Prenton, moved into her mother's home, and left her position as a bar manager since her mother was no longer available for childcare.
"This has had a complete domino effect on her children's and grandchildren's lives," Leah explained. "What I've learned out of this is you've got to get on with it, so I haven't had time to grieve."
Solicitor Rachel Donovan commented: "The tragedy about this case is that it was so preventable. Tracey did everything right. This has caused the family to lose their mother and grandmother, and a loved sister and friend. Lessons need to be learnt."
A spokesperson for Wirral University Teaching Hospital stated: "The Trust cares for hundreds of thousands of patients every year across emergency, specialist and community services and the provision of safe care is our top priority. When issues are identified or on the rare occasion that things do go wrong, we ensure learning is embedded into our patient safety and learning processes."
Leah's case against Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust remains ongoing, highlighting systemic issues in ECG result management and patient follow-up procedures within the NHS.
