Stuck in her flat for months, she finally left... and never went back

A senior hospital boss apologised to the family of a much-loved grandmother-of-two who died aged 58 at Manchester Royal Infirmary following failings in her care.

A consultant said that but for delays in a CT scan and monitoring of blood thinning medication Lorraine Joseph was on, she wouldn't have died when she did.

Ms Joseph, a mother-of-one from Whalley Range, was admitted to the MRI on May 14 this year after a fall at her flat. She also presented with a swollen right leg and chest discomfort. She passed away on May 20 after suffering a 'sudden collapse' and a subsequent cardiac arrest, Manchester Coroners' Court heard.

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Deputy director of the hospital, Dr Michael Burkitt, acknowledged there were failings in her care as he presented an 'assurance statement' at the inquest in evidence.

He said there were three areas of concern. Dr Burkitt said delays in obtaining a CT pulmonary angiogram - a scan used to diagnose blood clots in the lungs - impacted her 'medication schedules'.

He said the case highlighted 'additional risks associated with prescribing for patients with high or low body mass'. Ms Joseph, who worked as an administrator at the University of Manchester, was said to be morbidly obese and the inquest heard she hadn't left her flat since 2023. She had suffered with sarcoidosis, a rare condition causing the body to develop inflamed lumps, for many years and struggled to get around.

Dr Burkitt said another 'area of concern' highlighted was the 'fragmentation' of her care in being managed in multiple areas of the hospital. He started in his evidence by apologising to the family on behalf of Manchester