A heartbroken man has spoken out in anguish after his partner was tragically misdiagnosed and sent home from a UK hospital with little more than Gaviscon, only to die days later from a catastrophic aortic dissection.
Martin McHugh's world shattered when his beloved fiancée, 47-year-old Dawn Goodwin, passed away in September 2022. Her death followed a devastating series of medical oversights at Royal Stoke University Hospital, where her life-threatening symptoms were mistakenly identified as acid reflux.
A Fatal Misjudgement
Ms. Goodwin, a mother and dedicated carer, arrived at the hospital complaining of severe chest and stomach pain. Despite presenting clear indicators of a vascular emergency, medical staff allegedly failed to conduct the necessary scans that could have saved her life.
"They told her it was probably acid reflux and sent her home with Gaviscon," Mr. McHugh recounted, the pain still raw in his voice. "Days later, she was gone. The love of my life, taken because they didn't look properly."
The Agonising Final Days
After her initial discharge, Ms. Goodwin's condition rapidly deteriorated. She returned to the hospital just two days later, where the critical truth was finally discovered. She was suffering from an aortic dissection—a tear in the main artery leading from the heart.
Tragically, by the time the correct diagnosis was made, it was too late for intervention. She passed away shortly afterwards, leaving her family and Mr. McHugh in a state of profound grief and disbelief.
A Call for Accountability and Change
This case has ignited serious concerns about patient safety and diagnostic protocols within the NHS. An internal investigation by the University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, which oversees Royal Stoke, acknowledged a delay in diagnosis and has reportedly implemented changes to prevent future tragedies.
However, for Mr. McHugh, these assurances offer little comfort. He is now determined to raise awareness about the signs of aortic dissection and fight for greater accountability, hoping no other family endures a similar loss.
"Dawn was my everything," he said. "She was the most caring person you could ever meet. Her death was preventable, and I will never stop missing her."
