Man ‘was dead in hospital coffee shop for three hours but no one noticed’

A man’s body was found slumped over a table in a hospital coffee shop hours after he died there, it has been reported.

The 36-year-old was found unconscious at a café at Sandwell General Hospital in West Bromwich in July, according to The Times.

Members of the public and NHS staff reportedly continued to use the coffee shop for hours while he lay there, including doctors and nurses.

After three hours, a security guard realised he had not moved for a significant period, and attempted to wake him but found there was no pulse.

According to reports, rigor motis had set in by the time the man was taken to the A&E department, which suggests he had been dead for hours already.

He had been treated by medical staff at the hospital before being discharged and referred to adult mental health facility Hallam Street Hospital, which was directly across the road.

A spokesman for Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust said: ‘We are investigating the circumstances around the sad, sudden death of a man on our hospital site. The coroner has been informed.’

The Black Country Coroners Service said: ‘The cause of death is yet to be ascertained hence why no inquest has yet been opened.

‘The coroner will make a decision based on the reports as to whether an inquest is required.’

In January this year, a mum-of-two was found unconscious under a coat and later died after waiting seven hours in A&E.

The 39-year-old woman arrived at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre complaining of a headache, where she was triaged and seen by nurses on three occasions.

When her name was finally called in the waiting area, nobody responded, and staff assumed she had left before finding her under her coat.

She was rushed to intensive care, where it was discovered she had suffered a haemorrhage and died three days later on January 22, reported LBC.

NHS England has been contacted for comment.

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