Inquest finds the death of Irene Dzifa King Arthur was caused by gross failures in her hospital care which amounted to neglect

Irene, who had been living in Church Crookham, Fleet, Hampshire died on Thursday 8 August 2024 at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey in the weeks before her 48th birthday.

Her family say she was not listened to by hospital staff, despite having an expert understanding of her sickle cell anaemia.

Irene started her career in the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, and decades later, having moved to the UK was involved in the air travel policy change meaning passengers can leave liquids in their hand luggage at British airport security. Her family say Irene “should be remembered each time you travel through an airport”.

The inquest into Irene’s death began on Tuesday 27 February 2026 at Woking Coroner’s Court.

Concluding the inquest on Tuesday 17 March 2026, Assistant Coroner for South Eastern England, Dr Karen Henderson found that Irene had obviously required a blood transfusion at an earlier stage. Had this been given, and had further necessary tests been carried out to investigate Irene’s increasing requirement for oxygen, Irene would have had greater capacity to compensate for the blood clots that had formed in her lungs that the trust failed to diagnose, and she would not have died at the point she did.

The inquest heard how in the four days Irene spent at Frimley Park Hospital before her death there were several missed opportunities to diagnose the life-threatening nature of her condition, including:

• Failure to document a plan to manage her sickle cell anaemia and no consideration of ongoing management of her profound anaemia, following a review by the medical team on 6 August 2024.
• Failure to make appropriate tests and investigations on how Irene’s parvovirus was affecting her sickle cell anaemia and to consider earlier blood transfusion.
• A failure by the specialist haematology ward not to encourage Irene to have blood transfusion on 6 August 2024.
• A failure to investigate the increase in oxygen requirements and checking for any infection on 6 August 2024. This would have led to a timely and appropriate treatment.
• A failure by the specialist haematology team to identify that Irene required a blood transfusion on 6 August 2024.

There was no clinical curiosity to investigate Irene’s increasing oxygen requirement and her decreasing haemoglobin levels which was 50% below her normal baseline on 7 August 2024.  
Irene was born in Accra, Ghana and had lived in the UK since 2003. She had two young children. Irene was diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia in her early childhood. This was well managed throughout her life; she only had occasional pain crises requiring hospital admission and never required a blood transfusion.

Irene had worked as a civil servant and aviation policy advisory within the Department of Transport and was also chair of trustees at Stepping Stones DS, a charity which helps people with Down’s Syndrome and their families in North Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey. Following her death, a fundraising page was set up in Irene's memory.

Irene’s family are represented by Suzanne White, partner and head of clinical negligence at law firm Leigh Day and solicitor Lily Hedgman with Christine Dela Cruz, who instructed Nageena Khalique KC of Serjeants’ Inn Chambers as counsel.

Irene’s husband Dominic Kwamena King Arthur said:

"Irene was a beautiful person inside and out, and she was looked up to by many, including her children, nieces and nephews.

“She was a dedicated and conscientious civil servant who served the public and represented the UK admirably at internationally multilateral aviation security events. She was committed to making a difference, and she truly enjoyed her work.

“Irene was a devoted mother who sacrificed everything for her children. She was a mother of real substance. She was also a loyal wife, sister and friend, who never lost touch with those she held dear.

“Irene was an expert patient. She understood her condition, and she knew what she needed when managing her sickle cell disease. Yet throughout her admission, she was not listened to.

“She repeatedly asked for pain relief, but this was not given to her. She felt dismissed, unheard and marginalised at a time when she was at her most vulnerable. No one should feel that way when seeking care.

“The coroner has today confirmed that there were gross failings in Irene’s care, which were materially causative in her death.

“The coroner has confirmed that there were numerous missed opportunities to investigate the cause of her deterioration and intervene. These failings are unacceptable. We are deeply disappointed by the lack of recognition, understanding and awareness of sickle cell disease within the trust. This is something that has wider implications for the sickle cell community, who too often feel overlooked and marginalised within the healthcare system.

“With Irene’s passing, a part of us went with her. We are eternally grateful to her for teaching us to be kinder, calmer, more spiritual and more focused. The future feels bleak without her, and life will never be the same. Our only hope is that lessons will finally be learned so that no other family has to go through what we have endured.”

Leigh Day partner Suzanne White said:

“We offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Irene Dzifa King Arthur. Irene had an expert understanding of her sickle cell disease and clearly communicated her needs. She should have been listened to and kept safe. The finding of neglect which represents a gross failure in Irene’s care is shocking and appalling for the family to hear.

“The inquest has brought into sharp focus a series of serious failings in Irene’s care which should never have happened. There were delays around transfusion despite clear indications and missed opportunities to recognise and escalate her deterioration. As the Trust’s own investigation report acknowledges, there were earlier opportunities to transfuse, clearer escalation steps that should have been taken, and better pain control and monitoring that should have been in place.

“Irene’s experience speaks to a wider, deeply troubling pattern. Too many people living with sickle cell disease predominantly from Black communities, report feeling dismissed, disbelieved, and marginalised when they seek care. This must change. Listening to patients, acting promptly on clinical warning signs, and ensuring staff have the right training and support are not optional, but basic standards of care.

“On behalf of Irene’s family, we will continue to pursue accountability and meaningful, lasting improvements so that no other family endures such a preventable loss. We stand with the sickle cell community in calling for stronger training, clearer escalation pathways, and a culture that truly hears and respects patients."