'˜Wonderful' Jackie '˜should have gone to hospital', says mum

Muriel Maguire’s daughter Jackie, 52, who had Down’s Syndrome, died on February 22 last year of a stomach ulcer and an infection. A conclusion of ‘natural causes’ was passed at her inquest at Blackpool Town Hall last week. Muriel, 80, said: “I am still very, very upset over Jackie’s death, as is my family. I’m not happy with the verdict of natural causes because there were a lot of individual failings. “Jackie grew up with a family who loved her and protected her. She loved music and dancing. She still retained her wonderful sense of humour. “Everybody who came into contact loved her. After she died one of the staff who was devastated by her death told me the heart had gone out of the house. That meant a lot.” Jackie, who lived at the United Response care home on St Annes Road East, had suffered from sickness and diarrhoea a week before her death, and had suffered a suspected seizure. Staff contacted the Clifton Medical Practice on Durham Road to arrange a home visit on February 21, but the doctor they spoke to declined to attend. An ambulance was called to the care home later that day, but in inquest heard Jackie became distressed, and it was decided that she would remain at the home under supervision. She was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital the following day, where she later died. Muriel said the family had hoped for a conclusion of natural causes with neglect, however this did not occur. She said: “If Jackie had something to calm her down, she would have gone to the hospital. If she had gone to the hospital her chances or survival would have been much higher.”