The tragic death of Tanya McCartney, a 25-year-old mother, has raised serious concerns about the care she received at Chesterfield Royal Infirmary. Just hours after calling her hospital visit a “waste of time,” McCartney was found dead in her bed on May 19, 2023. The alarming circumstances surrounding her death have prompted her family to seek further investigation into the treatment she received.
Tanya, who was a trainee mental health nurse and mother to an 11-month-old son named Marcus, visited the emergency department with symptoms including a high temperature, shortness of breath, and a painful throat. Initially believing she had caught a cold from Marcus, her general practitioner advised her to seek hospital care. However, staff at the hospital failed to diagnose her condition, which was later identified as pneumonia.
Instead of receiving appropriate treatment, Tanya was discharged with oral antibiotics. On returning home, she expressed frustration to her mother, Natasha McCartney, about her experience, stating it had been a “waste of time.” Tragically, her health continued to decline, and she was found unresponsive the following morning.
In the wake of this devastating event, Natasha has taken on the responsibility of caring for Marcus, now three years old. She described her daughter as a vibrant individual with a “wicked sense of humour” and expressed deep sorrow over the loss, stating, “Tanya has been failed in so many ways.”
Family members have ordered an investigation into the hospital’s actions, revealing significant oversights in Tanya’s treatment. The Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has since issued an apology, acknowledging that if Tanya had received intravenous antibiotics, “she would have, in all probability, made a recovery.”
Natasha recalled the day of Tanya’s hospital visit, describing the lengthy wait and her daughter’s disappointment at not receiving a clear diagnosis. “She went to bed, and was asleep when I went out to work the next morning. I hoped she would wake up feeling much better,” she shared.
The initial internal investigation by the hospital suggested that discharging Tanya was reasonable; however, her family contested this conclusion, highlighting discrepancies in the statements provided. Natasha noted, “There was something in one of the statements which really rang alarm bells—Tanya would never drink water.” This inconsistency fueled their decision to engage negligence lawyers from Slater and Gordon to further investigate the circumstances surrounding Tanya’s death.
An inquest into Tanya’s death has been reopened and is scheduled to take place next year. Natasha stated, “Until we’ve had the inquest and I’ve found out exactly what happened to Tanya, I can’t move on. None of us can.”
Solicitor Rebecca Dowse, representing the family, emphasized the preventable nature of Tanya’s death, calling it “utterly avoidable.” She expressed that the family has been left grappling with not only the loss of a beloved family member but also the struggle for answers regarding her care.
Kevin Sargen, Medical Director for Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, expressed condolences to Tanya’s family and acknowledged that the care provided did not meet the expected standards. He stated, “We are continuing to work with HM Coroner to support their ongoing investigations into Ms McCartney’s death.”
As the family seeks justice and clarity, Natasha reflects on the profound impact of her daughter’s absence. “This has broken my heart, and it kills me that they have admitted if only my daughter was given the care she deserved, she would still be alive.” The fight for accountability continues, as Tanya’s family hopes to uncover the truth behind her untimely passing.
