THE heartbroken parents of a Bradford man who died in searing pain after suffering a perforated ulcer have spoken of their agony.

Margaret and David Musgrove, of Eccleshill, have been left devastated by the untimely loss of their son Jason and wanted to speak out at their feelings of being let down prior to his death.

The couple are wracked by grief as they reflect on the difficulty of the past nine months, a time in which they have struggled to come to terms with his death.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Jason with his mum and dad Jason with his mum and dad

Jason, who was 47 and worked as a security guard at ASOS in Barnsley, died on October 3 last year from peritonitis due to a perforated ulcer and was seen several times in the days prior to his death by paramedics. 

An inquest last month ruled the medical cause of Jason’s death was natural, but coroner Katy Dickinson said there was a “potential missed opportunity to send a higher category ambulance” on the day of his death “which may have changed the outcome”. 

The inquest heard that if the call had been given a higher category response, the ambulance could have got to the dad-of-two sooner.

But Jason’s parents also have lingering concerns about the care he received after being taken by ambulance to Bradford’s A&E department two nights before he died. 

The couple say he was told he faced a six-hour wait and so discharged himself and claim they were told if he had been seen, he could have been saved. They say they were also told he had been “forgotten about” - but claim the hospital has denied saying this.

In a letter to Mr and Mrs Musgrove addressing their various concerns, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “Jason should have been seen within an hour of arrival after being given a Priority 3 at assessment. 

“However, due to unprecedented demand on the service that evening, the waiting time was prolonged.”

The Trust added that they could not have prevented Jason from leaving A&E and had his level of pain been communicated, additional pain relief would have been provided but they “could not have foreseen the tragic events which were to follow”. 

Mrs Musgrove said: “He should have been seen within the hour. He should have been seen, never mind them saying, all of a sudden, they got a quick influx of patients.”

Heartbreakingly, Mrs Musgrove had to give her son CPR on the floor of the family living room, as she tried in vain to bring him round after his condition worsened.

She said: “I had to drag him on the floor. I’m shouting ‘come on Jason, come on, come on wake up, please wake up’.”

Paramedics came and took over, but nothing more could be done.

The couple have spoken of the devastating impact on their lives, with Mrs Musgrove unable to step foot inside her son’s old bedroom. 

She said: “He was so loved, he was so loved by everybody. He loved his job, they loved him. 

“It’s absolutely devastating. My heart’s gone, I miss him so much. For long enough, if anyone came to the door, I was thinking he was coming home and he was going to walk through.

“When I break down, it’s absolutely sobbing, there’s just no controlling it. I just scream ‘Jason, please home, please come home’. I just want him home. If all the love and hugs and kisses all my friends have sent could have saved him, he would be here.

“It’s like, somebody please, wake me up and get me out this nightmare.”

A spokesperson for Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:

“Firstly, once again we would like to offer our heartfelt condolences for the sad and sudden loss of Jason.

“We have written to the family on two occasions to share with them the findings of a thorough investigation we carried out into the care Jason received while he was in our A&E department.

“Members of the department have also met with Jason’s family to try and answer their questions and address their concerns.”

The spokesperson added: “Following the meeting, we assured the family that if they had further questions, they should get in touch. 

“We extended this offer of further support as we wanted to do everything in our power to help the family through what has been an enormously distressing time.”