Kevin Campbell died in June at Manchester Royal Infirmary but a Level 5 patient safety incident – the most serious category – has been raised regarding aspects of his care
Kevin Campbell died in June at the age of 54 and serious concerns have been raised over the hospital care he received by a health trust.
An inquest into the death of the former Arsenal and Everton striker has declared a Level 5 patient safety incident – the most serious category – about aspects of his care whilst he was at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI).
Coroner Zak Golombek raised issues regarding the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, who manage the hospital care. He said the provisional cause of death given for Campbell was multi-organ failure due to a heart infection, also known as infective endocarditis.
Mr Golombek said at Manchester Coroner’s Court: “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. He went on to declared a Level 5 incident related to a delay in aspects of Campbell’s care and diagnosis as well as concerns over the decision-making process concerning palliative care.
Mr Golombek went on to say that the trust was conducting internal investigations and that more evidence would come to light including the investigation report, witness statements from clinicians and a statement from Campbell’s next of kin.
He said: “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.”
The final decision on the medical cause of death and the care received by Campbell “will be made as part of the inquest process”. Mr Golombek said he would “adjourn the proceedings to await additional disclosure.” No date was set for a further hearing.
According to the NHS website, endocarditis is a rare and potentially fatal infection of the inner lining of the heart and is most commonly caused by bacteria entering the blood and travelling to the heart.
His son Tyrese, who plays for Stoke City, tweeted after his father’s passing that “the pain of this is indescribable and as a son you look at your dad as invincible. He was the life and soul of every party and room he blessed, a one-in-a-million person that was loved by everyone.”
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