Bolton family raises concerns after mum found dead

The family of a "very popular" grandmother who had dementia are searching for answers after the 79-year-old was found dead in the grounds of the Royal Bolton Hospital.

Joan Kevill, mum of Angela Wilding, Amanda Wilkinson and Anthony Kevill, was found dead on March 9 when she wandered out of the hospital after waiting to be admitted to a ward.

Described as an "outgoing, lovely lady", Joan was diagnosed with dementia 12 months ago and was taken to hospital on March 8 this year after she began experiencing chest pains.

Amanda, known as Mandy, said on March 8, she received a phone call from her mum's carers saying she had pains in her chest, and they had phoned an ambulance.

Mandy called round to her mum's home in Horwich before an ambulance arrived at around 2.15pm and paramedics took her blood pressure, which was low.

It was said that attempts were made to take an electrocardiogram (ECG), which is used to check heart rhythm, but the machine was faulty.

Joan was then taken to the Royal Bolton due to her low blood pressure and pains in her chest, Mandy said.

Joan Kevill (Image: Angela Wilding)

Joan, who was with Mandy, waited for a couple of hours in the A&E department before having blood tests and an X-ray.

Mandy said a doctor then told her "it is looking like your mum has had a slight heart attack".

Joan then had an ECG and an injection but was unable to be admitted due to a lack of beds so was put in a wheelchair and taken to another area, Mandy added.

She said: "Nobody came to us after that until about 7.45pm I went to the receptionist and said look nobody has been to see us, but I need to leave my mum as I need to go home to take my insulin as I am diabetic.

"I asked for someone to watch out for my mum and she said as soon as the staff change over, I will get someone to sit with your mum."

Mandy said she went home at 8.30pm and phoned an hour later to discover her mum "wasn't very happy" and was "confused".

She said she was assured by the hospital someone would sit with her mum and warned a reception staff member that "she will just walk off" if no one watches her.

But hours later, at around 1.20am on March 9, it was discovered that Joan had gone missing.

Joan's phone was tracked to the Royal Bolton and when Mandy and Angela arrived back at the site they were informed their mum had died after being found in the grounds of the hospital.

The three siblings have since shared their concerns relating to the treatment of their mum and are calling for answers.

Joan Kevill (Image: Angela Wilding)

In an email sent to the Royal Bolton, including details of her mum's treatment, Angela said: "We would have been devastated by mum's death in any event, but the circumstances and timeline of her final hours are very concerning, and we believe have made the start of the process of bereavement even more difficult."

The family had a meeting with the Royal Bolton NHS Foundation Trust in which they aired concerns about the investigation report and spoke about "inconsistencies".

Angela said: "It's just a really bad state of affairs really, my mum might have had a heart attack anyway, but had she been in a bed and monitored, at least she would have passed away with a little bit of dignity instead of being left out in the cold on her own."

In response, chief nursing officer at the trust, Tyrone Roberts, said: "This is a really tragic situation, and our hearts and thoughts are with all her family during this incredibly difficult time.

"We’re doing all we can to fully understand what happened and to look to see whether there are opportunities for us to learn and improve.

"We will continue to meet and keep in touch with the family to ensure they have the all the support they need."

Paying tribute to her mum on behalf of the family, Angela said: "My mum was a very outgoing person.

"Up until Covid hit she was the life and soul of any party, always up for a laugh and very chatty to everybody.

"Everybody in Horwich knew her, I’d say nine out of 10 people in Horwich knew my mum, she was a very popular lady.

"At her funeral there was about 140 people who turned up, she was very well known.

"After Covid hit that's when things started going a bit pear shaped like they did for a lot of people.

"She worked her whole life, only part time, as she had us three kids to bring up but enjoyed working part time and she lost our dad 12 years ago, sadly.

"She adored her grandkids, and after my dad died, she did find it a little bit hard but after she came out of that she doted on all the grandkids.

"She was a lovely, lovely lady, who loved line dancing and going out to the pub at the weekend."

An inquest into Joan's death is set to take place at a later date.

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