SIR Richard Branson’s wife died from a blood clot after doctors failed to give her medication, an inquest heard.
Lady Joan Sarah Drummond Branson, 80, passed away in November last year at The Lister Hospital.
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She died following complications from a back injury she obtained as a result of a fall at the family home on Necker Island.
Joan suffered a “massive” blood clot in one of her lungs, an inquest was told today.
The court heard Joan was admitted to the hospital on November 17 last year following a GP referral for “persistent” pain following the fall.
She had tripped over a pair of slippers by her bed and was “unable to get up” and was “in a lot of pain”.
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Joan had a history of blood clots going back as far as at least 2010 and had previously taken blood clot jabs.
But while at the hospital, she was not offered Enoxaparin injections despite her medical issues, the court was told.
Dr Nevil Pavithran, who took over Lady Branson’s care, told the inquest she should have been given anti-coagulants within 12 hours of her admission to hospital.
Her daughter, Dr Holly Branson, expressed her concern at her mother’s treatment but said she did not want to “attribute blame to any individual doctor”.
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She questioned why Joan was not offered the medication after being admitted to hospital and said she “does not accept” her mum refused it.
Dr Branson said her mum was “accustomed to anti-coagulant (anti-blood clot) injections and never had difficulty with them”.
She explained Joan “used them extensively while flying and during previous hospital admissions” and always took the injections when advised.
Dr Branson added: “The suggestion she refused Enoxaparin due to prior pain or bleeding concerns is not consistent with her usual practice or attitude.”
She also said in a statement that while at her mother’s side during the first two days, Enoxaparin “was never offered”.
Dr Branson added: “Had I been aware she was not receiving Enoxaparin injections I would have been very concerned given her recent long haul travel and medical history.”
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She also said Joan had not been given anti-clot stockings to wear for up to 48 hours after her admission to hospital and had to ask the nurses for some.
The consultant in charge of her care told the inquest he “deeply regretted” not having prescribed her clot-busting drugs.
Dr Inaki Bovill said a VTE assessment (Venous Thromboembolism assessment) “should have been carried out” and the medication should have been prescribed on her admission.
He said: “Yes it should have been done and should have been prescribed.
“It was a regret it wasn’t spotted by me that evening.”
Dr Basir Kunduzi, who was on duty at the Lister Hospital, was asked by the coroner whether he thought she should have been on anti-coagulant medication.
He accepted it was his responsibility to prescribe the drugs and told the court Joan should have been given the drugs.
When asked why she wasn’t, Dr Kunduzi said he wanted to organise a CT scan ensure there was no bleeding, which the medication could worsen.
He said he wrote on Joan’s records he had not given anti-clot drugs and believed any doctor who took over would review the decision.
Dr Kunduzi said he now realises “the importance of communication between team members” and has “changed” his team practice.
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He said the decision not to administer the anti-coagulants to would live with him for the rest of his life, adding: “I would like to express my deepest condolences to Lady Branson’s family”.
The inquest continues.