The emotional mother of a tragic actress has revealed how her daughter died from a blood clot three weeks after her 30th birthday after ‘doctors’ dismissed her symptoms as ‘anxiety’.
Emily Chesterton’s parents are now warning of the dangers patients face due to the expansion of a government program for more physician assistants, or PAs.
Emily, 30, was seen by a PA during her Vale Practice surgery appointment in North London on October 31, 2022 – as she thought she was seeing a doctor.
Her symptoms included calf pain, a swollen and warm leg, shortness of breath and she found it increasingly difficult to walk.
Emily, who was from Greater Manchester but moved to London to pursue an acting career, thought she had been seen by a GP but instead doctors prescribed her propranolol medication for anxiety, while also suggesting she had long Covid .
Emily Chesterton (pictured), 30, died after blood clot symptoms dismissed as ‘anxiety’
Emily Chesterton’s parents are now warning against the increasing use of doctors after a coroner found their daughter’s life, pictured, could have been saved
She collapsed later that evening and was rushed to hospital, where she was found to have a blood spot in her left calf, but her heart had stopped beating and doctors were unable to save her life.
A coroner concluded last July that her life could have been saved if she had gone to the emergency room and suffered a pulmonary embolism.
Her mother Marion Chesterton has now raised concerns about plans to expand the use of PAs.
She said today: ‘Losing a child is devastating, but when you find out that the death was preventable, should have been prevented, it’s just devastating – it’s torture.’
‘All patients should have the right to know who is treating them and have the choice to see a fully qualified doctor.
‘If I had had the time, I would have taken her to the emergency room straight away. That’s the biggest regret of my life. My advice to everyone is: always ask who you are hanging out with.’
She told me BBC ‘doctor’s assistant’ would be a more accurate title.
England now has around 4,000 PAs, although the government wants to reach 10,000 by 2036 to help meet widespread NHS staff shortages.
The NHS careers website states that PAs ‘support doctors in the diagnosis and treatment of patients’ – and also: ‘You will work under the supervision of a doctor.’
PAs usually study for a life sciences-related degree before pursuing a two-year integrated master’s degree.
Emily’s parents, both retired teachers, have called for more clarity on whether patients are seen by a GP or otherwise by a PA.
Brendan Chesterton said: ‘We are concerned that patients go to doctors and do not realize that they are not doctors, like Emily.’
The PA who saw Emily in October last year had not properly introduced herself and her role, leading Emily to believe she had received informed advice from a GP.
The PA’s contract was later terminated and the practice no longer employs PAs.
Emily Chesterton’s mother Marion has described her loss as ‘just devastating – it’s torture’
Actress Emily (pictured, right, with castmates) thought she had been seen by a GP but had in fact discussed her symptoms with a junior doctor
The coroner said Emily ‘should have been referred immediately to a hospital emergency department’.
They continued: ‘Had she been on both occasions, there is a good chance she would have been treated for a pulmonary embolism and survived.’
An NHS spokesperson said after the inquest: ‘Patient safety is at the heart of the NHS’s long-term workforce plan and the role of junior doctors is an essential part of our workforce mix, with more than 3,000 staff working in this role across the world . healthcare in England.
‘Physician Associates are qualified and trained healthcare professionals, usually with a life sciences degree, who work alongside fully trained physicians as part of the healthcare team.’