Coroner warns of 'unclear responsibility' in overnight hospital care after patient death

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By Daniel Pye

A patient's death has prompted a coroner to warn that confusion amongst doctors over overnight support protocols in Greater Manchester's stroke network could risk lives.

Margaret Crooks died at Salford Royal Hospital on 20 February 2025 after having a stroke and developing an intracerebral haemorrhage as a complication of intravenous thrombolysis given at Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport.

Mrs Crooks initially attended Stepping Hill Hospital in Stockport with stroke symptoms. A CT scan shortly after midnight confirmed she had suffered a large bleed as a complication of the thrombolysis medication.

On the advice of a doctor at Salford Royal, the patient did not receive treatment to reduce the risk of further bleeding until being transferred.

Mrs Crooks was transferred to Salford Royal Hospital, where she died on 20 February.

The stroke team told the inquest that Salford Royal's overnight doctors should have advised Stepping Hill to start treatment before transferring Mrs Crooks. However, the advice appears to have been given by a stroke registrar at Salford, without consultant input.