A cherished mother from Wolverhampton has been left unable to speak and paralyzed on her right side after a brain haemorrhage was missed by doctors over a 12-day period, her son has revealed.
Initial Collapse and Discharge
Delores Bart, 56, first collapsed in her bathroom on September 15, 2024. Her son, Leon, rushed her to the hospital after hearing a thud. Despite experiencing dizziness, she was discharged with advice to return if pain worsened. Over the next days, she visited her GP twice, receiving paracetamol and later co-codamol, but the severe head pain persisted.
Collapse and Emergency Surgery
On September 27, Delores collapsed outside her grandchildren's school. She was taken to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton, where a CT scan revealed a significant brain haemorrhage that had been bleeding for about 12 days. She was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham for immediate brain surgery.
Leon described the moment he saw his mother before the helicopter transfer: "When I walked in, I didn't recognise her, and she didn't recognise me. She was sitting upright on the bed and couldn't talk, was making moaning noises, and was trying to get out of the bed. She looked straight through us. I don't think I have ever cried so much in my life it was horrendous."
Long-Term Impact and Care
Nearly two years later, Delores can utter only a few words and phrases, such as "open the window" or "cup of tea please," and has lost all movement on her right side. She has aphasia, often saying the wrong word, and requires 24-hour care from Leon, who accepted a workplace demotion to look after her. He said: "The stage she is at now, she will likely be at for the rest of her life. She is medically stable but can't move her right side at all."
No Official Complaint
Leon and his sister, Charlotte, have not lodged any official complaints with The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust regarding their mother's initial treatment. A trust representative stated: "We would be happy to meet with Mrs Bart and her family to discuss any concerns they have over the care she received."
Fundraising for Home Adaptations
Leon has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for adapting their home to meet Delores' needs, as she can no longer do anything for herself and requires constant care.
