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A possible medical negligence case could result from the death of a 30-year-old father who had a massive brain haemorrhage after being sent home from hospital three times despite complaining of severe headaches.
Doctors told him he was suffering from migraines and failed to realise he was suffering from the potentially-fatal condition.
Expert witness Nicholas Todd, a leading consultant neurosurgeon, told Manchester coroners court he probably would have survived if he'd been sent for a scan, even up to the day before his death.
The tyre fitter went to casualty complaining of a bad headache on December 13, 2007. He was given paracetamol but his symptoms persisted and nine days later he went back.
Again he was told to take painkillers and return if his condition got worse. He continued to feel unwell over the next few days and was taken to hospital after collapsing and having a seizure on December 27.
Medical staff continued to suspect he was suffering from migraine and allowed him to go home without a brain scan.
On January 8, the victim collapsed again and was rushed back to hospital. A CT scan that evening revealed he had a large aneurysm which had burst, causing massive brain injuries. He died two days later.
Head of clinical risk for the NHS Foundation Trust, Kathleen Hindley, told the inquest full medical notes detailing his recent history had not been available to all doctors assessing him.
She said: "We sincerely regret that there were missed opportunities to diagnose and treat him."
The hospital says it has investigated the tragedy itself and has learned lessons from the death.
Assistant deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton returned a narrative verdict and said the victim had died after `the opportunity was lost' to diagnose the aneurysm.
"This case outlines the need for good communication between families and medical professionals and medical professionals themselves."
The family have made no decision yet regarding a possible medical negligence claim.
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