Mum died after bungling hospital staff checked 'do not resuscitate' notice of the wrong patient

A retired nurse who dedicated her life to the NHS was failed when she needed it most, her heartbroken son has said. Pat Dawson, 73, worked as an NHS hospital nurse for 30 years.

She had been enjoying a well-earned retirement when she was rushed to Royal Blackburn Hospital on September 19 last year. Her family described her as 'fit and healthy'. She hadn't been to visit her GP in more than three decades and had never gone to A&E before.

On that night, the accident and emergency department had been categorised as 'over capacity and over-stretched' an hour before Pat arrived. There were more than 90 patients waiting to be seen.

READ MORE Neighbours wake up to 'screams' as fire tears through home with man dead and another fighting for their life

Accompanied by her son John, she was taken to the resus area as A&E buckled under overwhelming pressure. Barely four hours later Pat was dead, LancsLive reports.

An inquest heard today (April 15) how the retired nurse who devoted her life to the NHS would probably have survived if medics hadn't checked the wrong patient's notes which had a 'do not resuscitate' order in place. The court was told how Pat was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital by ambulance with a suspected bowel obstruction on September 19. As she waited to be seen, she told John that she needed the toilet.

John asked for a commode but at least two nurses failed to return with one and after waiting for a 'significant period' John ended up wheeling Pat to the toilet himself.

John regularly asked his mum if she was ok but on asking a third time he received no response. Staff then entered the toilet and found Pat slumped against the wall with dark fluid coming out of her mouth. A healthcare assistant was first on the