Coroner Rules Greenwich Teacher Would Have Survived with Blood Clot Diagnosis

A 28-year-old teacher from Eltham died after medical staff failed to diagnose a blood clot that led to her death, an inquest has found. Dena Collins collapsed at her family home on 12 January 2023 and later died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Greenwich. The coroner ruled that her death could have been prevented with earlier treatment.

Assistant coroner Linda Jacobs delivered the verdict at Inner South London Coroner’s Court on 10 January 2025, what would have been Miss Collins’ 32nd birthday. The inquest heard that she had visited her GP three days before her death and the hospital the day before, reporting symptoms consistent with a blood clot.

Clinical Judgment Errors Identified

Miss Collins had texted friends and family before her death, expressing concern that she might have a blood clot. She had researched her symptoms and the side effects of antibiotics she was taking. Despite this, her GP diagnosed muscular pain and offered reassurance on 9 January 2023.

On 11 January, she attended Queen Elizabeth Hospital complaining of leg pain, fever, and diarrhoea. Hospital records showed that a blood clot was considered at triage, and a D-dimer test, which detects clots, returned positive results. However, she was diagnosed with a possible ruptured cyst and told to return the next day for a scan.

The coroner found that risk factors, such as Miss Collins taking the combined oral contraceptive pill, were not considered during her GP visit. Ms Jacobs stated that had the clot been treated with anticoagulants, Miss Collins would likely have survived. She described the case as involving "errors of clinical judgment" in both primary and secondary care but stopped short of ruling neglect.

Family Calls for Accountability

Miss Collins’ family attended the inquest in person, with dozens of friends and relatives joining online. After the hearing, her sister Clare urged others to trust their instincts when seeking medical help. She said her sister had known something was wrong and had repeatedly sought help.

Clare Collins added that the family hoped the inquest would lead to "meaningful change" to prevent other families from experiencing similar loss. The coroner’s findings will now be reviewed by Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, which expressed condolences to the family.

A spokesperson for the trust said: “We are truly saddened by Dena’s death and the devastating and lasting impact it has on her family and friends. We will now take steps to understand the coroner’s recommendations in full and consider how to implement them.”

What Happens Next

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust will review the coroner’s recommendations and determine how to apply them to future patient care. The trust has not yet specified a timeline for this process. Residents with concerns about medical treatment can contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) for support.