Family heartbreak as Seaham man dies following NHS operation

Wayne Clarke, 32, passed away after a gastric bypass at Sunderland Royal Hospital – with his devastated family claiming the operation left him suffering a deadly stomach “leak”.

The 6ft golf-loving footie fan from Seaham had battled obesity and type 2 diabetes before going under the knife on December 3 last year.

But his loved ones say his condition spiralled after the op and he endured “undignified and demeaning” care, including being left in his own faeces.

Despite multiple surgeries to fix the leak in his stomach, Wayne’s health rapidly deteriorated and he died on January 7.

Wayne Clark died following NHS weight loss surgery. // (Image: SWNS)

Now his family are demanding answers, and say they’ve been left broken by his death.

Sister Mel said: “I don’t know how we will get over this as a family.

“My mam and dad are fading away, and our daughter absolutely adored her Uncle Wayne, she is only nine and it has been so hard to explain this to her.”

She told how Wayne repeatedly raised fears he was dying but felt ignored.

Wayne Clark who died following NHS weight loss surgery, pictured with dad Billy. (Image: SWNS)

Mel said: “The fact Wayne suffered so much is something that I’ll never forget, and we do want accountability for that.

“While he was in hospital, there were so many really upsetting incidents, and it’s so hard to live with knowing Wayne was treated so poorly.

File photo of Sunderland Royal Hospital. (Image: SWNS)

“He wasn’t taken seriously, he told me he was scared and he thought he was dying, but they’d just brush it off.

“There were times his machines were flashing and we’d get help and they’d tell us everything was normal.

“My mam would say there was something wrong, she knows her son better than anyone, but they wouldn’t listen.

“We even saw the water by his bedside was discoloured – I can’t really describe how bad his experience was in there.

Wayne Clark who died following NHS weight loss surgery, pictured with niece Maggie. (Image: SWNS)

“There was one absolutely awful instance where they accused him of recording them on his phone, Wayne was devastated with how they spoke to him and treated him about this.

“It was a very distressing situation when Wayne was declining really quickly, and raised a lot of questions.”

Mel’s husband Stu slammed the care Wayne received in intensive care.

He said: “The lack of any compassion or empathy was unbelievable really.

“The way they spoke to Wayne, even from what we saw ourselves, was unacceptable.

“Me and Mel both work in care and we were shocked at what we saw.

“You’d get staff sitting outside of patients’ rooms in ICU, playing on their phones – these are desperately ill people who deserve a lot better.

“Visitors aren’t even allowed their phones when they come into the unit.

“Having read through Wayne’s medical records, there was an instance where Wayne was supposedly rude to them, after being left on his own for at least half an hour in his own faeces.

Wayne Clark (L) who died following NHS weight loss surgery, pictured with brother-in-law, Stu (R). (Image: SWNS)

“This is a young man who was in pain, desperate because he couldn’t do anything for himself and who was declining fast – and all they can say is that he shouldn’t have spoken to them as he did?

“He deserved to be treated with kindness and dignity, and what he received was far from that.”

The family also say they were “robbed of precious hours” with Wayne in his final hours.

Mel said: “We were robbed of precious hours with Wayne.

“They knew during the night he had got so much worse, and when your son or brother is in intensive care, you don’t sleep properly anyway with the trauma and worry – we would’ve been there instantly if we had known anything had changed.”

A spokesperson for South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We send our sincere condolences to Mr Clark’s family following their loss.

Wayne Clark who died following NHS weight loss surgery, pictured with sister Mel. (Image: SWNS)

“We have shared an in-depth response with them to help answer the questions they have around his surgery, the complications he suffered and his time in hospital.

“An inquest will now be held into his death and we will support the coroner fully in this process.”

Lawyers have now lodged a 26-point complaint over his care.

Rebecca Hall, of Slater and Gordon who is representing the family, said: “Wayne hoped this surgery would be life-enhancing and transformative, but the tragedy that ensued has rightly caused his family to ask questions about what went wrong.

File photo of Sunderland Royal Hospital. (Image: SWNS)

“Too often, we hear of families who are not listened to and feel dismissed by medics, and that is absolutely unacceptable.

“The way Wayne was treated only compounds his family’s devastation.”

An inquest into Wayne’s death is expected to take place later this year.