A woman who died from “unrecognised” complications after having a Covid-19 vaccine was wrongly diagnosed with gastroenteritis, a coroner has said.
An inquest heard Michelle Barlow developed blood clots and died 16 days after having the AstraZeneca jab.
Senior coroner Timothy Brennand said the 51-year-old, from Orrell, Wigan, may have received “sub-optimal care”.
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals Trust said her treatment was “in line with appropriate guidance”.
The inquest heard mother-of-two Mrs Barlow first went to Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan with flu-like “side effects” on 19 March, 12 days after getting a vaccine at a mass vaccination centre at Robin Park, Wigan.
Her husband Ian told Bolton Coroner’s Court she felt “fobbed off” and was discharged, but returned the next day and was admitted, doctors suspecting gastroenteritis.
Three days later, Mr Barlow got a phone call from a nurse telling him to get to the hospital as soon as possible.
“I was told by Michelle they could not do anything for her. Then two doctors came in and explained,” he said.
“I said, ‘you have got to save her’.”
Hospital consultant Dr Mian Ahmed told the hearing if the same situation now arose, he would prescribe haemoglobin, blood thinners and CT scans sooner to the patient.
Surgeon Dr Marius Paraoan added that once he looked at Mrs Barlow’s CT scan, he concluded the blood clots were not treatable with surgery and “not compatible with survival”.