Rochester dad to receive compensation from NHS trust after death of his wife Koforowola Alwajud
Published: 00:01, 11 January 2019
A Rochester widower is set to receive compensation after his wife died from irreversible brain damage following a cardiac arrest in hospital.
Mother-of-four Koforowola Alwajud, known as Kofo, died in Charing Cross Hospital, London, days after the cardiac arrest in a mental health unit.
Now West London Mental Health NHS Trust has admitted liability for the 45-year-old's death, and agreed a compensation settlement with her husband Rotimi Oluwagbemiga, of Cecil Road.
He has now filed a claim with the High Court, seeking the court’s approval of the undisclosed settlement for him and the couple’s children, who are aged from five to 16.
The court’s permission is needed because the children are minors, under the age of 18.
Documents revealing the claim have just been made publicly available at the court in London.
After an inquest into her death, lasting eight days, a jury concluded that the process of addressing Mrs Alwajud’s condition was "held up and hampered" by a string of failings.
She had initially been admitted to Hammersmith and Fulham Mental Health Unit on Christmas Eve 2015 after worries over her behaviour.
Soon afterwards, she refused to eat or drink, and spent much of her time lying in bed, refusing to speak to staff.
On New Year’s Day 2016, staff found her lying on her bed, unresponsive, and she was transferred to Charing Cross Hospital.
Tests showed she had suffered a cardiac arrest, leading to irreversible brain damage, and she died on January 9, 2016.
The inquest jury found that mental health unit staff had failed to recognise her condition and carry out life support, delayed in calling for help, and failed to brief the duty doctor of the emergency nature of the situation.
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Nicola Jordan