A Norfolk hospital “missed an opportunity” to give antibiotics to a pensioner who died with sepsis, a court has heard.
Desmond Kelly, 81, of Westhall in Halesworth, Suffolk, died at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital earlier this year.
He had been admitted for breathing problems on March 28.
Despite treatment, his health continued to decline, and he died at the hospital four weeks later on April 20.
An inquest into his death was opened at Norfolk Coroner’s Court at County Hall, Norwich, on November 10.
Led by area coroner Samantha Goward, she said: “Mr Kelly was admitted to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital with increased shortness of breath and oedema due to decompensated heart failure.
“Mr Kelly had a leg wound and swabs were taken but not tested.
“There has been some concerns that there was a missed opportunity to give antibiotics on a positive swab.”
The medical cause of death was given as decompensation heart failure and staphylococcus aureus sepsis from an infected leg wound.
An inquest to determine the official cause of death will take place next year on June 13.
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