A heartbroken mum has revealed her daughter died just three weeks after her 30th birthday after being misdiagnosed with anxiety, and is now speaking out in a bid to stop others facing the same fate.
Emily Chesterston, from Salford, was suffering from a number of symptoms, including calf pain, a swollen and hot leg and shortness of breath, while also finding it increasingly difficult to walk.
She called her doctor’s practice before heading in to be seen by who she thought was her GP, but was actually a physician associate (PA).
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Her mother Marion Chesterton told the BBC: "Emily had a pain in her left calf.
She phoned the doctor’s surgery. It didn’t get better so she made an appointment and was seen by a physician’s associate.
“We believed – and she believed – at the time it was a doctor, but it wasn’t.”
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The devastated mum continued: “She was breathless, light-headed and she had difficulty walking.
"In the second appointment, the PA diagnosed her with a calf sprain, long-Covid and anxiety."
Marion says the PA sent Emily off, recommending paracetamol, and at no point did they examine her calves.
"She was breathless, light-headed"
Things got worse, and she died in hospital three weeks after her 30th birthday.
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It turned out Emily had a blood clot in her left calf, which led to a pulmonary embolism – something that happens when a blood clot gets stuck in an artery in the lung.
The coroner’s conclusion was that Emily ‘should have been immediately referred to a hospital emergency unit’, and that, if she had been seen, it is likely she would have survived.
Her GP surgery - The Vale Practice in London, said in a statement to the BBC that it was ‘deeply saddened’ by Emily’s death.
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It said it now only provides appointments with GPs, nurses and pharmacists after a ‘thorough’ review, and that staff have been told to ensure that ‘a patient understands their role at the start of each appointment’.
"If she had been seen, it is likely she would have survived"
Emily’s family are now trying to raise awareness of the use of PAs, saying ‘all patients should have the right to know who is treating them and have the choice to see a fully-qualified doctor’.
Marion added: "If I had my time over, I would have taken her straight to A&E. That is the biggest regret of my life.
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"My advice to anyone is always ask who you are seeing."
Topics: Health
Jess Hardiman