Dena Collins
Photo by family handout/PA

Devoted Crystal Palace Fan, 28, Endures Agonizing Pain Only to Be Sent Home Without a Scan

Dena Collins, a 28-year-old primary school teacher from Eltham, tragically lost her life on January 12, 2023, due to a heart attack caused by an undiagnosed blood clot. According to documents submitted to an inquest, her sister strongly believes that Collins would still be alive if her general practitioner (GP) and hospital staff had heeded her concerns.

Three days before her untimely death, Collins visited her local GP complaining of pain in her left leg. She had texted friends and family expressing her suspicion of having a blood clot after researching her symptoms and the potential side effects of antibiotics she was taking. Despite her fears, the GP diagnosed her with muscular pain and provided reassurance, dismissing her concerns, as reported by Surrey Live.

On January 11, Collins returned to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Greenwich with four days of leg pain, fever, and diarrheas. The nursery and reception teacher was using a crutch to walk due to the pain, limping, and experiencing shortness of breath. Although the possibility of a blood clot was noted at triage, and her D-dimer test results were positive—a test indicating the presence of clots—she was diagnosed with a possible ruptured cyst and instructed to return the next day for a scan. Tragically, Collins collapsed at her family home the following morning.

Her father administered CPR until an ambulance arrived, transporting her back to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where she was pronounced dead a few hours later. A serious incident report by the Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust revealed that despite seeing four doctors, an undiagnosed deep vein thrombosis (DVT) led to her fatal heart attack.

The report identified multiple failures in her care, including the absence of questions about DVT risk factors, incomplete records from her initial GP visit, and incomplete electronic records at the hospital. It concluded, “Had the DVT been diagnosed earlier and she received anticoagulation her outcome may have been different.”

Clare Collins, 33, expressed her devastation, stating, “She was young, she was fit, she was healthy – she had every chance of surviving.” She continued, “She knew she had a clot, she knew, and nobody listened to her, and then she just trusted that they had ruled out the life-threatening and so did we.” Clare added, “She should have been given that thinner, and I strongly believe she would have been here.

We cannot 100% say that the thinner would have saved her, but she was never given the chance… we believe she could have been saved.” Dena Collins was a dedicated nursery and reception teacher, passionately committed to every class and child, especially those with special educational needs. A long-time Crystal Palace football club fan, she had a season ticket for over 20 years and attended every home game with her father.

The inquest into Collins’ death commenced at Southwark Coroner’s Court on Monday, more than two years after her passing, but was adjourned until June due to last-minute evidence. Clare described the delay as “frustrating,” adding, “My mum is devastated, she just sat and sobbed next to me.” She expressed that her sister’s death was “avoidable” and has “destroyed” her family, stating, “Our lives have been forever changed and the thought of living the rest of my days without her by my side leaves me unable to breathe.”

A spokesperson for Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust expressed sorrow over Collins’ death, stating, “We are truly saddened by Dena’s death and recognize the devastating and lasting impact this has on her family and friends. Following Dena’s death, we undertook a full and thorough review of her care, which has been shared with her family. It is very difficult for us to comment any further during today’s inquest, but we continue to offer the Collins family our sincere condolences and any support they need.”

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