Castle Hill Hospital TAVI Deaths Under Investigation: Families Deserve Answers

An early-stage police investigation is now underway following the deaths of four patients among a group of 11 who underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedures at Castle Hill Hospital near Hull. The hospital is managed by the Humber Health Care Partnership NHS Trust, and serious concerns have emerged regarding the care delivered by its TAVI team between 2019 and 2023.

The TAVI procedure

The TAVI procedure, widely recognised in the UK as a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery. According to the British Heart Foundation it is typically recommended for older patients with aortic stenosis when the aortic valve doesn’t open fully and restricts blood flow. Carried out using a catheter inserted through the leg or chest, TAVI usually takes between one and two hours and is generally considered safe.

However, internal reviews and documents seen by the BBC in their recent article suggest that the TAVI mortality rate at Castle Hill was three times higher than the national average during the period under investigation. Despite this, patients and their families were reportedly not informed of these elevated risks.

“A Disaster” in the Operating Theatre

The BBC has highlighted the case of Dorothy Readhead, an 87-year-old woman from Driffield who underwent a TAVI procedure in the summer of 2020. Although pre-operative checks indicated the procedure should be carried out via the left leg due to arterial blockages on the right, the medical team mistakenly accessed the right side which is contrary to guidance from the device manufacturer.

The consequences were catastrophic. Over six hours, the team made three failed attempts to implant the device, resulting in a major arterial tear and the loss of five litres of blood—all while Mrs Readhead remained awake under local anaesthetic. The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) later graded her care as “poor”, concluding that her death was avoidable. Yet, her death certificate omitted any mention of the TAVI procedure, listing pneumonia as the cause of death.

Shockingly, her family was unaware of what had transpired until contacted by the BBC. Clinicians have a Duty of Candour to be transparent and it could be argued that in this case this was not fulfilled.

A Pattern of Poor Care and Omission

Mrs Readhead’s case is just one of several examined in three separate reviews commissioned by the hospital trust, including two by the RCP and one by independent consultants IQ4U. Families were not informed about the existence of these reviews, nor about the findings, until investigative journalists brought them to light.

Key findings from the most recent 2024 review include:

• Multiple examples of poor clinical decision-making.
• Inaccurate or misleading death certificates, which omitted key details about the failed procedures.
• A “lack of urgency” and failure to mitigate risk in high-risk patients.
• The care of some patients, such as 83-year-old Brian Hunter, was graded “very poor” due to technical errors during surgery.

Despite concerns raised by seven senior cardiac consultants in 2021—who urged the hospital’s chief executive to consider suspending the service; Castle Hill’s TAVI unit continued to operate.

Legal and Ethical Questions

It is deeply troubling that serious clinical failings may have been concealed, and that families were kept in the dark about the circumstances surrounding their loved ones’ deaths. The absence of transparent investigation, and in some cases the withholding of accurate information from coroners, raises ethical as well as legal concerns.

Humberside Police have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing, although no arrests have yet been made.

Seeking Accountability and Legal Support

At Fletchers Solicitors, our Group Actions team has extensive experience in representing individuals and families affected by systemic failings within hospitals, particularly in relation to surgical procedures and medical devices. We understand how difficult it is to pursue justice in cases where there has been a breakdown of transparency and trust.

Our specialist lawyers have acted on behalf of hundreds of clients in similar circumstances where safety was compromised, procedures were mishandled, and outcomes were obscured or misrepresented leading to tragic outcomes. We are committed to ensuring that every client’s voice is heard and that accountability is secured through the civil legal process.

If you or a loved one has been affected by a TAVI procedure at Castle Hill Hospital, or you have concerns about the care received, our team is here to listen and provide clear, compassionate guidance to get answers and justice.

The Group Action team at Fletchers Solicitors are able to offer a Free Case Assessment and explore the options about your path to justice. Contact the team today to learn more.