The sister of a disabled woman, who died after spending 39 hours in a chair in a hospital A&E department whilst suffering an asthma attack, says justice has been done after a coroner concluded Marina Young’s death was caused by neglect.

Giving his conclusion today, Friday 27th September at Preston’s Fulwood Court, Lancashire senior coroner Dr James Adeley, said that the care of Marina, 46, was characterised by gross failure to provide appropriate assessment, medical care and escalation to ITU. Dr Adeley has also concluded that his duty to complete a Regulation 28 Prevention of Future Death Report is engaged because of the lack of action taken by the Trust in the 2 years since Marina’s death.

Michelle Young, 47, Marina’s sister and a former hospital ward sister, had to sit through two days of harrowing evidence about her sister’s final hours, said: “I feel Marina’s voice has been heard and that it has been recognised that her life did matter. Our dad never recovered from Marina’s death and did not live to see the coroner’s ruling but he would have been relieved to know that justice has been done. All we have ever wanted is to protect other patients and even saving one life would make the pain we have been through worthwhile. That’s what Marina and my dad would have wanted and it brings me closure to know that has been achieved.”

Madeleine Langmead, a solicitor specialising in medical negligence at law firm JMW represented Michelle through the inquest and will now be helping her to take further legal action. She said: “We are grateful to the coroner for his careful investigation into Marina’s care and for reaching this conclusion, which we feel is the only one that could have been made. Marina’s case is likely to have implications for the treatment of other vulnerable patients, particularly those suffering an asthma attack and should improve their patient safety.”

An internal investigation by the Royal Preston Hospital had already identified numerous failures in the treatment of Marina’s asthma attack.

Marina, of Ribbleton, Lancashire, had spina bifida, which limited her mobility, although she lived independently, could walk short distances, and would see her family every day. Marina, who was the first baby in the UK to have a bladder transplant, also had to use daily catheters to empty her bladder due to the impact of her spina bifida.

Marina was diagnosed with asthma as a child, but this was well controlled up until the severe episode that led to her being taken to the Royal Preston Hospital on 20 June 2022. Marina had driven herself the short distance to her sister Michelle Young’s house, at 7pm, which was an unusual time for Marina to be out and about. Michelle found Marina to be having an asthma attack and very short of breath. Michelle, who is a retired hospital ward sister, drove Marina to hospital, where she gave a full hand over of her medical history, including her continence needs and her reliance on catheters.

Michelle was unable to stay at the hospital with Marina due to the Covid restrictions that were in place at the time, however she was in regular contact with her via text message. On the evening of 21st June Marina texted Michelle to say she had been told she might need to be moved to intensive care.

At 10am on the 22nd June Michelle returned to the A&E department to drop items off for Marina, only to be told that she had died. When Michelle went to see Marina, she found that she still had her clothes and shoes on and smelt strongly of urine.