The family of an NHS nurse who died just days after doctors misdiagnosed her severe chest pain as indigestion say she was failed by the system she dedicated her life to.
A Tragic Timeline of Events
Paula Ivers, a 47-year-old from Denton in Tameside, Greater Manchester, was found collapsed on her bedroom floor by her young daughter on March 8, 2024. This devastating discovery came only three days after she had visited Tameside Hospital's A&E department complaining of extreme chest pain she described as worse than childbirth.
An inquest at Stockport Coroner's Court heard how doctors at the hospital reassured Ms Ivers that her symptoms were not heart-related and sent her home with a diagnosis of indigestion. She had packed an overnight bag expecting to be admitted for observation, but after undergoing blood tests, an ECG and a chest X-ray, she was directed to the hospital's Same Day Emergency Care Unit.
Despite her severe symptoms and family history of cardiac issues - her father had died from heart-related problems in his 40s - a doctor who reviewed her case diagnosed her with gastroesophageal reflux disease (acid reflux) and advised over-the-counter heartburn medication.
Critical Failures in Care
The inquest revealed that Dr Osama Ahmed, a consultant in emergency medicine at Tameside Hospital, had reviewed Ms Ivers' ECG results but had not physically examined her. He acknowledged being unaware of her family's cardiac history when making his assessment.
Dr Ahmed admitted there was no documentation regarding his decision to classify her condition as 'low risk' chest pain and conceded that she might not have been suitable for the Same Day Emergency Care Unit.
An autopsy later determined that Ms Ivers' pain stemmed from a tear in her aorta - the body's largest artery, which carries oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. This damage ultimately caused the cardiac arrest that ended her life.
A Family's Heartbreak and Legacy
Ms Ivers' sister Lesley, who is also a nurse, described how Paula was destined to be a nurse from a young age but had been failed by the very institution she served. We were all relieved that she had been advised that it was nothing to do with her heart due to our family history, she told the inquest.
She added: It is a cruel irony that Paula was a fierce advocate and defender of the NHS, yet when she needed it most, she was let down in the worst way possible.
Simon Norbury, Ms Ivers' partner, described the family's shock at losing her after being told it was just indigestion and there was nothing to worry about. He had taken her to A&E after her GP advised a hospital visit, recalling how she was struggling to breathe during the car journey.
The case has raised serious questions about diagnostic procedures for chest pain patients and the importance of considering family medical history in emergency assessments.
