The family of a Norfolk couple who died just 17 days apart at the same hospital have accused the NHS of “systematic failings” and are demanding answers following what they describe as a series of serious clinical errors. The deaths occurred at the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, where Barbara and Andrew MacAllan were both receiving treatment late last year.
Their sons, Peter and Philip MacAllan, say their parents trusted the NHS but were let down at critical moments, resulting in distressing final days and missed opportunities that may have saved lives. The family is now calling for full inquests into both deaths to ensure lessons are learned.
Mother’s Death Raises Concerns Over Resuscitation Decisions
Barbara MacAllan was admitted to hospital with heart problems that her sons believe were triggered by the stress of her husband’s unexplained decline in health. During her admission, the family says clinicians failed to properly follow guidance around a Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment, known as a ReSPECT or Do Not Resuscitate order.
Despite concerns over Barbara’s mental capacity, no formal Mental Capacity Assessment was carried out. Within four days, two conflicting resuscitation decisions were recorded, and the family says they were never consulted about their mother’s wishes. Barbara had Parkinson’s disease, but her sons dispute claims that she lacked capacity to be involved in decisions about her care.
They also raise concerns about medication errors, alleging incorrect dosages and poor timing contributed to delirium, dehydration and rapid deterioration.
Final Hours Marked by Distress and Delay
In the hours before her death, Barbara became frightened and confused and made a distressing 999 call from her hospital bed. Her family says they were never informed that she had contacted emergency services from within the hospital.
On 2 December 2024, as Barbara’s condition worsened, hospital staff delayed transferring her husband Andrew between wards for around 40 minutes, citing the need for “sensitive communication”. The short delay meant Andrew arrived just two minutes after his wife died, leaving her, according to the family, to pass away alone.
The couple had shared a final FaceTime conversation the previous day, facilitated by staff, but their sons say the delay robbed them of a final goodbye in person.
Father’s Cancer Missed on Earlier Scan
Andrew MacAllan died on 17 December 2024, just over two weeks after his wife. A post-mortem examination revealed advanced pancreatic cancer. His sons say the cancer should have been detected months earlier.
After his death, the family requested access to CT scan images taken in February 2024. They claim that when they uploaded the original scan images into ChatGPT, the AI tool identified a pancreatic lesion within minutes.
Peter MacAllan said the family was devastated that technology appeared to highlight what clinicians missed, alleging that opportunities to escalate concerns about Andrew’s declining health were repeatedly overlooked.
Hospital Admits Missed Diagnosis
In correspondence seen by this newspaper, the hospital’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service formally admitted that radiologists failed to identify visible pancreatic cancer on Andrew’s February 2024 scan. The Trust also acknowledged missed opportunities to escalate concerns as his condition deteriorated and apologised to the family.
Jonathan Barber, interim executive managing director at the James Paget Hospital, said the Trust had been in close contact with the family and would hold a resolution meeting early in the new year with senior hospital leaders.
Calls for Accountability and Inquests
The MacAllan brothers say they have spent months seeking answers and believe their mother’s death may have been preventable had their father’s illness been diagnosed earlier. They say the cumulative stress, poor communication and clinical failures had devastating consequences.
They are now urging Norfolk’s coroner to open inquests into both deaths to fully examine what happened and ensure changes are made to prevent similar cases.
Remembering a Loving Couple
Barbara and Andrew MacAllan had been married for 60 years and moved to Great Yarmouth from Essex in 1970. Barbara was a historian and author who wrote about local migration history, while Andrew worked in manufacturing. The couple were long-time supporters of the RNLI and were known locally for their fundraising efforts.
Their sons say they hope speaking out will help protect other families from experiencing similar trauma.
