Cut on hand led to Spalding man’s death

A former football referee died after a small wound on his hand became infected, an inquest has heard.

Andrew Pamby (53), of Finley Close, Spalding, passed away on March 6, 2016 at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston after attempts to save his life failed including amputation to a finger and subsequently his right hand.

The inquest into his death at Boston Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, April 25 heard that Mr Pamby first contacted Munro Medical Centre in Spalding on February 23, 2016 looking to book an appointment to treat an injury to a knuckle which had become infected.

In witness statements to the hearing, staff from the centre said he’d told them the injuries were sustained when a shed door bounced back on his finger two days earlier.

An appointment was made for the following day but Mr Pamby rang one minute before the 5.25pm appointment to say he would not be attending.

He subsequently telephoned the free 111 NHS helpline and told the health advisor he had passed out on the way to the appointment, the inquest heard.

A transcript of the phone conversation was read out at the inquest in which Mr Pamby said the whole of his hand had become swollen and looked “a real mess.” He was advised to take antibiotics and attend A and E or the Minor Injury Unit at Spalding’s Johnson Community Hospital as soon as possible.

The inquest heard Mr Pamby was admitted to the Pilgrim Hospital with what was described by doctors as a “significant infection” on February 27.

In the early hours of February 29 he suffered a cardiac arrest which, the hearing heard, left Mr Pamby in a coma.

Subsequent operations to amputate the ring finger on his right hand and then the right hand itself failed to improve his condition and he passed away on March 6.

The autopsy report to the inquest said that sepsis as a result of the infected wound had led to major organ failure.

The inquest also heard that Mr Pamby had diabetes which was undiagnosed at the time of his death.

In a report Pilgrim Hospital had looked at its response to his cardiac arrest after the wrong team was initially called but the report concluded “there was no delay in delivering treatment” and “no difference to the treatment offered to Mr Pamby”.

The inquest also heard that Mr Pamby’s father Roy and sister Karen had indicated to medical professionals the infected wound may have been the result of a burn injury three months prior to their family member’s death.

However Lincolnshire coroner Paul Smith, said at the inquests conclusion: “Andrew Pamby died of the consequence of an accident.

“I’m quite sure the injury occurred on the shed door was the one that caused the events and consequences.

“It seems terribly sad that what seems to have been a very minor injury, the type that could happen to any one of us, could have such tragic consequences.”