Woman dies after weight loss surgery and ‘woeful’ private healthcare

Nicola Fisher underwent a gastric sleeve operation at Spire Washington Hospital and developed a leak from her stomach as a consequence.

Following emergency NHS surgery in June 2023, less than two days after her discharge from Spire Washington Hospital, Nicola underwent several more rounds of surgery at Sunderland Royal Hospital over the following seven months due to ongoing complications.

Sadly, Nicola died from multi-organ failure in January 2024, aged 54. She left behind beloved husband Peter, parents Fred and Marie, and dog Bobby.

Nicola, managing director of French Beauty Expert, was a highly respected name in the UK beauty scene. From her business HQ in Sunderland, she oversaw UK brand management of Matis Paris, and UK distribution of brands including Fake Bake, Phyt’s, Bionatural, Smooth Synergy, Clinisept and Clinisoothe.

At the inquest into her death, held at Sunderland Coroner’s Court, it was revealed that appropriate observations were not done by nurses at Spire Washington Hospital before her discharge, and medications were not given as expected. Nicola’s pre-discharge blood test results were also not checked prior to discharge.

Karin Welsh, assistant coroner, branded these failures “woeful” and said it had hampered her attempts to understand Nicola’s health at the time of her discharge, and establish whether there were missed opportunities to identify the leak and operate prior to her developing extensive infection in her abdomen.

“I rather suspect there is a perception in the general public that paying for treatment at a private hospital results in a quicker and better standard of care…this was not the case for Nicola,” Ms Welsh concluded.

Nicola’s husband Peter afterwards spoke of his “devastation” at the loss of his beloved wife, adding: “I know Nicola would never have gone ahead with this procedure particularly if she had any idea the aftercare would be so woeful, as it was quite rightly described, and the most basic of checks would not be performed prior to her discharge.

“Nicola and I were so happy together, she was so vibrant and such a lovely person. I miss her dreadfully every day.”

Nicola, from Washington, Tyne and Wear, had turned to Spire Washington Hospital for support with her weight loss ambitions after a gastric band she had fitted in 2009 did not deliver long-term results.

On advice from the surgeon at Spire Washington Hospital, she decided to go ahead with the gastric sleeve procedure, which removes up to 85 per cent of the stomach to restrict appetite and food consumption.

The surgery, on June 12, 2023, had the added complication of the removal of the existing gastric band – but Nicola was deemed fit to be discharged on the early evening of June 13, although in the inquest it was revealed that she did not receive appropriate checks beforehand.

No leak test was carried out due to it not being standard practice at Spire Washington Hospital, although it is done in many other healthcare settings, including in the NHS. Sunderland Royal Hospital would have done this, the inquest heard.

After experiencing symptoms of nausea prior to and at the point of discharge, Nicola contacted Spire Washington Hospital the following day, June 14, to complain of vomiting and shortness of breath. While they offered to prescribe anti-sickness medication, an ambulance had to be called to take her to Sunderland Royal Hospital.

She was found to have developed an extensive infection, which needed life-saving surgery in the early hours of June 15. Further surgery was required in August, November and December, but due to ongoing infection and deterioration, Nicola passed away on January 11, 2024.

Peter has turned to Slater and Gordon for support in securing further answers from private healthcare provider Spire as to what went wrong. The law firm supported him throughout the inquest.

John Lowther, senior associate at Slater and Gordon, who is acting for Peter, added: “The loss of Nicola is felt acutely by Peter, who had to witness his wife’s slow and painful decline over the course of several months after what she hoped would be life-enhancing weight loss surgery at Spire Washington Hospital.

“The inquest has led to the identification of a series of basic failures on the part of Spire Washington Hospital, which may have presented missed opportunities to avoid her suffering and death.

“We continue to fight for Peter and will support him in finding answers.”