Investigation into death of woman at Inverclyde Royal

The Tele spoke to Maria Kramer and her partner of 25 years Robert (Bob) Wylie on a number of occasions over the last year as her health rapidly deteriorated after she suffered acute kidney failure last September allegedly caused by medication for a leg problem.

On her return home from hospital the Skelmorlie woman was in agony for three weeks before a hip fracture was discovered.

She had to undergo two operations at Paisley's RAH before it was fixed properly and then she ended up back in A&E with sepsis a short time later.

The 74-year-old never recovered and found herself back in hospital for a final time when a perforated bowel was discovered. But she was too weak to undergo an emergency operation and passed away in May.

Her death has been referred to the procurator fiscal by attending doctors at Inverclyde Royal.

Maria's devastated family are now demanding answers.

Her heartbroken partner Bob, 73, of Skelmorlie Castle Road, said: "In September last year Maria was perfectly healthy and lived a full life.

"She had some underlying health problems but nothing that stopped her and we ran our own business up until two years ago. We had plans for our retirement together. Now she is dead.

"We had been fighting with them all along. When she went in for the final time, we kept asking for scans. We knew something was really wrong.

"She was just getting worse and worse. There are so many questions we need answered."

"When we finally had a doctor who listened to us, a scan was carried out and it was discovered she had a hole in her bowel. But the doctor told us that she was too weak to get the emergency operation needed to save her life. She never improved and died weeks later.

"But the doctor told me when she died it would be referred to the procurator fiscal.

"I don't want any other family to have to go what we have had to go through. The way Maria was treated throughout this was awful."

Maria's ordeal first began when she went to her GP with a sore leg and received medication which the family claim led to acute kidney failure.

On her return home she was in agonising pain for three weeks despite repeated concerns being raised.

It turned out Maria had a hip fracture and she was rushed to the RAH for an emergency operation. When that didn't work she had to undergo surgery for a second time.

Days after she came home Maria was back in A&E with suspected sepsis and remained in hospital for six weeks with complications.

Bob's sister Helen, who was also a close friend of Maria's, said: "To add to the tragedy when Maria was in hospital for the last time her own daughter died, aged 48, and her funeral was streamed to her bedside."

Her sister-in-law Helen Litherland added: "It was all so sad. I honestly can't believe Maria has died, we are so angry."

Bob said: "We couldn't even get her death certificate for nearly two months. Her funeral took place on July 10 but we are still waiting for the post mortem results. I was contacted by the procurator fiscal and gave them information.

"My wife was a wonderful woman and we spent so many happy days together. I just can't believe she is gone."

Maria was a patient at Dr Rai's Practice in Wemyss Bay,

A spokesperson there said: "We are sorry for Mr Wylie’s loss and extend our condolences to him and his family. However, due to patient confidentiality, we are unable to comment further. "

A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde said: "We are sorry for Mr Wylie’s loss and extend our condolences to him and his family.

"While we do not comment on individual patient cases, we can confirm that we did meet with Mr Wylie and were formally investigating his complaints.

"Unfortunately, he did not take the complaint forward

"The NHS GGC complaints team have attempted to resolve Mr Wylie’s concerns and unfortunately, he did not respond to the offers of a further meeting and engagement.

"To assist Mr Wylie, the complaints team directly linked with the Patient Advice and Support Service to see if they could support him during this process.

"Unfortunately, the complaints team have not received a complaint via the route. The complaints team encourage Mr Wylie to engage with PASS for additional support and assure him that they will investigate."

The Crown Office today confirmed that a unit which looks at deaths that are sudden or unexpected is investigating.

A spokesman said: “The procurator fiscal has received a report in connection with the death of a 74-year-old woman in Greenock on 30 May 2023.

“The investigation into the death is ongoing and the family will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments.”