Fiancé Dies Before Wedding After Hospital Blunders
Andy Shewan was set to marry his long-time love June Richards after 40 years together. The big day was January 2019. But tragedy struck just days before the wedding.
On 6 January, Andy, who had underlying health issues, felt unwell and was rushed to Whipps Cross Hospital’s A&E. Staff assured the couple he would soon be home and the wedding could go ahead. But Andy’s condition worsened. He was moved to the Acute Assessment Unit where he suffered a cardiac arrest that evening and sadly died the next day.
Ombudsman Slams Hospital for ‘Multiple Failures’
The Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman (PHSO) has now blasted the hospital for serious errors and ruled Andy’s death was avoidable.
Andy’s fiancée June, 80, said, “I feel very sad and very angry about it. It’s been three years and I still can’t stop crying. He died in pain and on his own. It’s so sad, I didn’t get to say goodbye to him because I thought he would be coming home.
We used to say to each other ‘aren’t we a lovely little family, you, me and Lily’, our lovely dog. Now, I sit here, and I think ‘I’ve lost Andy’. His death was avoidable; he could’ve still been here. I could have had him for another week, or it could’ve been a month or years. They’ve taken such a lot from me that no one can give me back.”
Hospital Guilty of Shocking Neglect
The Ombudsman’s investigation uncovered a string of failings at Whipps Cross:
- Ignored Andy’s worsening condition
- Left him alone in a side room for over an hour
- Failed to urgently alert senior medical staff despite critical monitor warnings
- Delayed emergency response with only a junior clinician bleeped after 25 minutes
- Hospital staff failed to contact June to say goodbye
- No proper inquiry into why the emergency response failed
- Slow, incomplete investigation report that dodged full responsibility and failed to guarantee reforms
June added, “Andy was so caring and gentle. He was the loveliest person you could meet and would help everyone. People used to say to me ‘aren’t you lucky to have him’, and I’d say ‘yes’, then he would say that he was lucky to have me.
I live near the cemetery where Andy is, and I still talk to him. I tell him that I wish he was here and that I miss him so much. This has taken his life and ruined mine.”
Ombudsman Demands Justice and Reform
Ombudsman Rob Behrens said, “This is a truly heart-breaking case. Multiple failings to provide the right level of care led to the death of a man just days away from the happiest day of his life. The distress this caused June, his fiancée, has been profound.
Nothing can change what happened or the tragic outcome. I hope that our investigation and recommendations can provide some comfort to June and lead to changes at the Trust that prevent this from ever happening again.”
The Ombudsman’s demands for Whipps Cross Hospital include:
- A formal apology to June for failing to prevent Andy’s death
- A £10,000 payout to June for the distress caused
- A clear action plan and evidence showing improvements to prevent repeat errors
Whipps Cross CEO Ralph Coulbeck said: “We are deeply sorry for the serious failings in the care provided to Mr Andrew Shewan and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. We apologised unreservedly to Ms June Richards, paid the full compensation recommended by the Ombudsman, and took steps to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
