A primary school educator passed away due to an undetected blood clot, just a day after seeking medical attention at a hospital for leg discomfort and fever, according to documents presented at an inquest.
Dena Collins, 28, lost her life at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Greenwich, located in southeast London, on January 12, 2023. She had been discharged despite medical professionals initially considering the possibility of a blood clot as the source of her complaints.
An inquest conducted at Southwark Coroner’s Court on Monday was postponed until June because new evidence was presented at the last moment.
A representative from Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust stated, “After Dena’s passing, we conducted a comprehensive review of her medical care.”
Ms. Collins, who resided in Eltham, sent messages to friends and family expressing her concern that she might have a blood clot after investigating her symptoms and the possible side effects of the antibiotics she was prescribed.
Just three days prior to her death, she visited her local general practitioner reporting pain in her left leg, which was attributed to muscular strain.
The day before her passing, the nursery and reception teacher went to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, detailing her struggles with leg pain, fever, and diarrhea that had persisted for four days.
She relied on a crutch to move around due to her pain, and she was limping and experiencing difficulty breathing.
Although the possibility of a blood clot was flagged during her triage assessment, and a D-dimer test returned positive—indicating the presence of clots—she was ultimately diagnosed with a suspected ruptured cyst behind her knee and instructed to return the following day for a scan.
Tragically, Ms. Collins collapsed at her family residence the next morning. Her father performed CPR until an ambulance arrived, taking her back to the same hospital, where she passed away a few hours later.
A serious incident report by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust revealed that, despite Ms. Collins being examined by four different doctors at the hospital, an undiagnosed deep vein thrombosis (DVT)—a type of blood clot most often found in the leg—culminated in her fatal heart attack.
The report stated, “Had the DVT been identified sooner and appropriate anticoagulant treatment administered, her prognosis might have differed.”
It concluded there were “some overlooked warning signs” in Ms. Collins’ treatment, such as her shortness of breath, leg pain, recent illness, and the positive D-dimer result, along with “elements of cognitive bias that influenced clinical judgment.”
Nonetheless, the report noted that since her heart attack occurred 16 hours after her discharge, “it is improbable that this incident could have been prevented.”
Her sister, Clare Collins, 33, shared during the hearing: “We have spent two years seeking answers for Dena, and now we are faced with an additional six months of waiting.
“Our lives have been irrevocably altered, and the thought of going forward without her by my side is suffocating.”
After the hearing, she expressed her belief that Dena “had every opportunity to survive” if she had received anti-clot treatment.
“She was aware she had a clot; she knew it, and no one heeded her concerns,” she lamented.
Clare further emphasized Dena’s profound commitment to her students, especially those with special educational needs.
In addition, Dena was a devoted supporter of Crystal Palace Football Club, holding a season ticket for more than 20 years and attending every home game alongside her father.
A spokesperson for Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust expressed, “We are deeply saddened by Dena’s passing and understand the profound and lasting impact this has on her loved ones.
“After her death, we conducted an exhaustive review of her care, which was shared with her family.
“At this time, it is challenging for us to provide further comments during today’s inquest, but we continue to extend our heartfelt condolences and support to the Collins family.”
