Tamara Davis, 31, died after being left on a hospital trolley at the Royal Sussex County Hospital for 12 hours, with her family claiming the A&E department looked like a “scene from a war zone.” The family described the chaos in the A&E department, with up to 30 patients on trolleys in corridors and other sick people spread across the floor and seats. Tamara was rushed to the hospital by car on the evening of December 10, 2022, after experiencing breathing difficulties. Her partner, Raphael Ifil, tried to get an emergency ambulance but failed, so he drove her to the hospital. When she arrived, she had a fit and was rushed into A&E.
Tamara was sent to a cubicle in A&E and given oxygen before being moved to a trolley in the corridor, where she waited for 10 hours. Her sister Miya, who was by her side, said the staff forgot about her sister and did not provide proper care. Despite being given antibiotics, they missed giving her another dose, which was marked on her notes but later crossed out without explanation. Tamara’s condition worsened, and she was eventually admitted to intensive care where she was placed on a ventilator. She died three days later due to sepsis and multiple organ failure. Her family believes her death could have been prevented with proper care in A&E and criticize the hospital’s treatment of her.
Miya expressed her heartbreak at losing her sister and the appalling treatment Tamara received at the hospital. The family is demanding answers from the hospital trust and wants to know why they failed to provide adequate care. Dr. Andy Heeps, Chief Operating Officer at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, expressed condolences to the family and acknowledged the tragic situation. He emphasized the challenges faced by hospital staff working under pressure but assured they strive to provide care, compassion, and dignity to all patients. A full inquest into Tamara’s death is scheduled for June 28.
The death of Tamara Davis will be the subject of a full inquest after the area coroner for West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Joanne Andrews, found reason to suspect her death was “unnatural.” The family blames the hospital for failing to prevent Tamara’s death and providing her with poor treatment during her time at the Royal Sussex County Hospital. Her mother Sue expressed disgust at the hospital’s handling of the situation and the devastating loss of her daughter. They are seeking accountability from the hospital trust and want to understand why proper care was not provided to Tamara in her time of need.
In response to the family’s accusations, Dr. Andy Heeps expressed condolences and acknowledged the tragic circumstances of Tamara’s death. He explained that while he cannot discuss Tamara’s care publicly, the hospital staff work tirelessly under challenging conditions to provide the best possible care to patients. Despite the hospital’s efforts, Tamara’s family believes her death was preventable and that she was not given the attention and care she needed. They hope the full inquest will shed light on the circumstances leading to Tamara’s tragic passing and hold the hospital accountable for their actions or lack thereof.
The family’s anguish over Tamara’s death is compounded by the perceived neglect and disregard for her well-being during her time at the hospital. The lack of attention, missed doses of medication, and overall poor treatment of Tamara have left her loved ones devastated. They are seeking answers, justice, and accountability from the hospital trust to ensure that similar tragedies are not repeated and that patients receive the care and respect they deserve. The upcoming full inquest will provide an opportunity for the family to seek closure, understand the circumstances of Tamara’s death, and hold the hospital responsible for any shortcomings in her care.
