Concerns over the hospital care of former Arsenal and Everton footballer Kevin Campbell have been flagged up by a health trust, an inquest has heard.
Campbell died at the age of 54 at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) on 15 June after he was admitted there a month earlier.
Opening an inquest on Thursday into his death, Zak Golombek, area coroner for Manchester, said Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, which manages the hospital, had declared a Level 5 patient safety incident – the most serious category – about aspects of his care.
He said the provisional cause of death given for Campbell was multi-organ failure due to a heart infection.
No family members were present at Manchester Coroner’s Court as Golombek outlined background details.
Golombek said: “In terms of the circumstances of his death he had been admitted to Manchester Royal Infirmary on 15 May 2024. He had been reported to have been fit and well until around January 2024 when he had a number of admissions to hospital before this final admission.
“I have been notified that Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust which manages Manchester Royal Infirmary has declared a Level 5 incident [the most serious category]related to aspects of Mr Campbell’s care in which there is reference to both a delay in aspects of his care and diagnosis, and also concerns raised over decision-making processes with regards to the institutions of palliative care.
“Those matters are now subject to internal investigations by the hospital trust. Therefore I am able to direct that there should be additional evidence to be obtained which includes the investigation report, together with associated witness statements from all relevant clinicians involved in Mr Campbell’s care and also a statement be obtained from Mr Campbell’s next of kin in order to provide an antecedent history for Mr Campbell and to set out any concerns that the family may have had in relation to his care.
“I have also received notification from the trust that a medical cause of death can be offered and therefore I will consider evidence from the clinicians involved in Mr Campbell’s care as to the cause of his death.
“The provisional cause of death, as it stands, refers to Mr Campbell dying from multi-organ failure as a result of infective endocarditis. So, final determinations on the medical cause of death and the care afforded to Mr Campbell will be made as part of the inquest process. I will adjourn the proceedings to await additional disclosure.”