Black mother with sickle cell died after “gross failure” in hospital care, inquest finds
Coroner identifies “suboptimal care” in death of Irene Dzifa King Arthur, 47, but no prevention of future deaths report issued
A gross failure in care contributed to the death of a 47-year-old mother with sickle cell disease, an inquest has found, as a coroner ruled that opportunities to treat her were missed during her final days in hospital.
Irene Dzifa King Arthur died at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey on 8 August 2024, after what the court heard was a period of “clinical deterioration” that was not properly recognised or treated.
Assistant Coroner Dr Karen Henderson concluded that Irene died of natural causes contributed to by neglect, identifying delays in treatment and a failure to respond to clear warning signs.
Despite the findings, the coroner said she would not issue a prevention of future deaths report, stating that changes to haemotology care were already being made within the hospital’s department.
The inquest heard that Irene, who had previously been “generally well” and had never required a blood transfusion, was admitted to hospital on 5 August after feeling unwell.
While she was initially treated appropriately, not all necessary investigations were completed or acted upon that day.
The court heard there was a “significant lapse in care” and “suboptimal care” as her haemoglobin levels dropped by more than 20%, with no adequate steps taken to address it.
Her haemoglobin was found to be around half her normal baseline for more than 24 hours.
The coroner said a blood transfusion should have been given on 6 August but was delayed.
“There was a failure to provide basic medical attention,” she said.
The court heard that Irene was clinically deteriorating in hospital, but this was not properly recognised.
There was “no clinical curiosity” about her increasing need for oxygen, and no adequate investigations were carried out to determine the cause.
The coroner found that this led to a missed opportunity to diagnose pulmonary emboli, or blood clots, which were later identified in a post-mortem examination.
She concluded that if Irene’s anaemia had been treated earlier, her oxygen-carrying capacity would have been improved and she would not have died when she did.
Her anaemia was found to have materially contributed to her death.
Black Current News attended the hearing at HM Coroner’s Court in Woking, where Dominic King Arthur sat with two supportive friends.
As the findings were delivered, Irene’s husband, Dominic, wept in court.
The coroner told him: “I am so sorry for your loss.”
Earlier in the inquest, which opened in January 2026, the court heard that Irene had told her husband she felt she “wasn’t being listened to” during her time in hospital.
In a statement, Dominic described his concerns about her care and the level of understanding of sickle cell disease.
He said the world was “a better place with her in it”.
“I wish I could turn back the time to the dawn of 8th August 2024, when I said I would drop the children off and come back with some strawberries for us to spend the night together in the hospital,” his statement read.
“If I had known that 30 minutes later, I would walk back to see Irene in the hands of medics, I would have stayed with her all the way through.”
He added: “I am still struggling to come to terms with Irene’s tragic and sudden death.
“My life and the lives of our two very young children will never be the same again.”
Concerns about the treatment of sickle cell patients have been raised repeatedly at a national level.
A 2021 cross-party report titled No One’s Listening highlighted evidence of racism and systemic failures in sickle cell care across the UK.
The findings in Irene’s case come amid ongoing scrutiny of how patients with the condition are treated within the NHS.
A civil servant, Irene was a devoted wife and mother of two young children.
Born in Accra, Ghana, she moved to the UK in 2000 and built a distinguished career in public service.
She worked for the Department for Transport and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, later serving as a policy adviser during the Covid-19 pandemic.
She was also a charity trustee supporting people with Down’s syndrome and their families.
Frimley Park Hospital has been approached for comment.
Got a news tip or story idea? Submit it via this form. Reader feedback and corrections are welcomed separately here.
