The death of a 34-year-old man in the crowded waiting room of Broomfield Hospital in Essex has sparked outrage and demands for an investigation. Thomas Casey, a bricklayer from Tottenham, London, died after collapsing at the hospital on Friday, with his son alleging he was left “like a dog rolling around on the floor” despite being in “agonising pain”.
Casey’s son, also named Thomas, claimed his father had warned hospital staff that he was suffering from a cardiovascular issue, but was simply given painkillers and told to wait. The younger Thomas said he had pleaded for a screen to be put up to protect his father’s dignity, but was told by a doctor to “tell the other patients to look the other way”.
“They didn’t care about him. They left him like a dog rolling around on the floor. It was inhumane,” the 19-year-old told the BBC. He also alleged that the hospital staff had discriminated against them because they were from the traveller community.
Chelmsford MP Marie Goldman has since written to the hospital’s chief executive, Dawn Scrafield, describing the incident as “deeply distressing” and calling for a formal investigation into Casey’s death. The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that it is investigating the care Casey received and has invited his family to meet with its senior leadership.
Christine Blandford, the trust’s chief medical officer, expressed condolences to the family and said the hospital would be discussing their concerns. Casey had reportedly gone to Basildon Hospital the day before his death, but left due to a seven-hour wait.
The tragic incident has sparked outrage and calls for immediate action to protect patients and ensure that such a situation never occurs again. The investigation by the NHS trust is expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding Casey’s death and the treatment he received in his final moments.