London North West Healthcare Trust confirms policy changes following sudden death of father-of-three, Dilbuhr Pazir

Dilbuhr’s widow, Natasha says his sudden and tragic death has "shattered" his family, leaving them struggling both emotionally and financially.

Following a one-day inquest at Barnet Coroner’s Court, HM Area Coroner for North London, Mr Peter Anthony Murphy concluded that Dilbuhr died from natural causes.

Dilbuhr grew up in Taplow, Buckinghamshire and went to Ellington Primary and Desborough Secondary School. He went on to setup his own private hire business ensuring children with special educational needs and disabilities were able to get to school safely across the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

In August 2023, he was diagnosed with T4 laryngeal cancer. Following consultations with medical professionals Dilbuhr’s family felt positive about his prognosis and that with treatment he would have been highly likely to enter remission.

On Saturday 2 September 2023, while awaiting surgery at Northwick Park Hospital in north west London, Dilbuhr vomited while being fed by a nasogastric tube, running through his nose. The feed entered his lungs, and he suffered a cardiac arrest. After suffering from brain damage, Dilbuhr died at Slough’s Wexham Park Hospital on Thursday 19 October 2023.

In January 2024, Dilbuhr’s wife, Natasha instructed the medical negligence team at law firm  Leigh Day to investigate his case.

In evidence at inquest, a trust witness acknowledged that Dilbuhr should have been checked on more frequently. The trust has said that following Dilbuhr's death it has made policy changes.

Dilbuhr’s wife Natasha said:

“Dilbuhr was a loving husband, a kind father to our three sons, a brother, son and friend to many. He was taken from us too soon.

“I have three young boys to raise, and I am faced with the enormous challenge of trying to provide them with emotional support, guidance and the financial stability they need. 

“While nothing can ever make up for the devastating loss of Dilbuhr to our family, we hope that lessons can be learned to ensure no one else has to endure the grief that we are going through.”

Frankie Rhodes, a senior associate solicitor of law firm, Leigh Day said:

"Dilbuhr had been diagnosed with T4 laryngeal cancer, his initial treatment had gone well, and his family were optimistic about his chances of recovery. He was otherwise fit and healthy.

“It was accepted in the incident report ordered by the trust and in evidence that staff should have checked on Dilbuhr more frequently because he was a patient with a compromised airway meaning there was an increased risk of him choking.

“Since Dilbuhr’s death, London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust has changed its policy to ensure patients in similar circumstances are no longer placed in side rooms. Feeding by nasogastric tube is also no longer carried out overnight, to minimise the risk to patients. 

“Dilbuhr’s death was sudden and tragic, and it is a privilege to represent Natasha”