Susan Hodgetts, a mother who recently lost her 50-year-old daughter Zoe Loudon-Godfrey, has been left waiting for three weeks to find out her daughter’s cause of death. Mrs. Hodgetts is calling for answers as her daughter’s body has been held in the morgue pending a post-mortem examination as the local coroner’s office suffers from a lack of pathologists.
The victim, a former train driver for Virgin Cross Country, died from what is believed to have been a heart attack. She passed an occupational medical assessment, but suddenly became breathless on May 7th and was quickly hospitalized as a result. She was released from the hospital the next day to recover at her holiday home in Porlock, only to collapse again two days later and have to be airlifted back to Musgrove Park Hospital.
Despite hospital staff believing that Loudon-Godfrey may have had a heart attack, no post-mortem examination has been performed to confirm the cause of her death. The delay in her post-mortem examination is due to Somerset having reduced pathologist capacity in some areas, which is causing severe delays.
According to a statement issued by Somerset Council, they apologize for the delay experienced by the family during such a difficult time. The council has pledged to look into the staffing shortage and identify other pathologists that may be able to help with the post-mortem examination.
Medical professionals have reported that their work is not always prioritized by NHS employers, including coronial autopsy work. Pathologists have said that their field is often viewed as lesser in comparison to other medical professions, and this mentality is not helping the current problem of understaffing.
Mrs. Hodgetts remains upset that her daughter’s body has been left in the morgue for so long, and is still unsure of what the cause of death is. The council has expressed sincere condolences and sympathies to the family for the delay experience
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