SHE WAS SENT HOME WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF ACID REFLUX — THREE DAYS LATER, PAULA IVERS WAS GONE

Paula Ivers, a devoted mother and children’s nurse, died from an aortic dissection after being discharged from hospital. Now, a coroner is warning that lessons must be learned to help prevent similar tragedies.

Paula Ivers was a mother, a nurse and a much-loved member of her family. But after seeking medical help for severe chest pain, she returned home with a diagnosis of acid reflux — and died just three days later.

The 47-year-old, from Denton in Greater Manchester, had attended Tameside General Hospital with chest pain that spread to her back and shoulders.

She was discharged, but the underlying condition causing her symptoms had not been identified.

Paula had suffered an aortic dissection, a serious condition in which the inner layer of the body’s main artery tears. It can become life-threatening and requires urgent medical attention.

Her death has left her family devastated and raised difficult questions about whether the warning signs could have been recognised sooner.

A TRAGEDY THAT HAS LEFT A FAMILY HEARTBROKEN

For Paula’s loved ones, the loss has been made even more painful by the knowledge that she sought medical help before she died.

They described her death as “needless” and said it had “left a huge void” in their family.

Paula was not only a mother but also a children’s nurse who had devoted her working life to caring for others. Her story has prompted renewed attention to the importance of recognising potentially serious causes of chest pain.

CORONER WARNS THAT LESSONS MUST BE LEARNED

Following an inquest, coroner Chris Morris issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report, highlighting concerns about the assessment of patients presenting with chest pain.

The concerns included whether patients receive an appropriate assessment, whether senior medical staff review cases promptly and whether important family medical history is properly recorded.

The report also raised questions about checking blood pressure in both arms — an assessment that can sometimes help identify signs associated with an aortic dissection.

The purpose of such reports is to identify risks and encourage action where circumstances could potentially lead to further deaths. They do not, by themselves, establish that every concern raised caused a particular death.

KNOWING THE WARNING SIGNS MATTERS

An aortic dissection can cause sudden, severe chest or upper-back pain. Some people describe the pain as tearing or ripping, although symptoms can vary.

Severe, sudden or unexplained chest pain — especially pain spreading to the back — should be treated as a medical emergency. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should seek emergency medical help immediately.

Paula’s story is a heartbreaking reminder that serious conditions can sometimes be difficult to recognise, and that persistent concerns about symptoms deserve careful assessment.

Her family continues to live with a loss that words cannot fully describe. Their hope is that the questions raised after Paula’s death will lead to meaningful lessons and help protect other families from experiencing a similar tragedy.

Rest in peace, Paula. Your life, your work and the people who loved you will not be forgotten. 🕊️