A SOUTHAMPTON grandmother choked to death in hospital two hours after a doctor ignored advice not to give her tablets, an inquest heard.

Doctors at Southampton General Hospital prescribed tablets to Doris James, 87, despite warnings from a nurse and speech and language therapist that she was having difficulty swallowing.

Southampton Coroner’s Court heard how the pensioner was brought into accident and emergency with lung problems, but a series of communication errors between staff led doctors to believe she could still swallow the pills to treat pneumonia and bronchitis.

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Within two hours of concerns being raised by the therapist, Mrs James choked to death in her hospital bed, the inquest heard.

Hospital chiefs have since held an investigation and say they will improve staff communication.

The inquest heard how doctors followed medical notes from A&E that showed Mrs James had already been given tablets, but her family told the court she was actually unable to take the pills.

Duty consultant Professor Avan Aihie Sayer, told the inquest she chose to continue treating Mrs James with tablets for her lung condition until a speech and language therapist (SALT) assessment could be made.

She told the inquest she did not see the “nil by mouth” sign or speak to any nurses before advising Dr Stephen Cole to carry on with the tablets.

The inquest also heard how Dr Cole failed to speak to nurses and left a handwritten note on Mrs James’s medical chart explaining why he ignored their “nil by mouth” order.

Lead nurse Sister Jayne Brown told the inquest that, after the SALT assessment by therapist Jenny Deveson advising another form of treatment, Dr Cole insisted on continuing with the tablets.

“I think that for some reason I didn’t argue enough with the doctor.

But he was adamant the tablets should be given,” she said.

Mrs James’s granddaughter Jo Tizzard said the nurses should have done more to stop the tablets being prescribed. “They should have made more of an effort,” she said.

Coroner Keith Wiseman recorded the death as an accident and said Sister Brown was not responsible for Mrs James’s death, which showed flaws in the hospital’s decision- making process.

“A formal gathering of those involved should take place and a consensual decision for treatment should be made,” he said.

Dr Michael Marsh, interim medical director at Southampton University Hospitals Trust, said improvements would be implemented.