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A grandad died less than 24 hours after hospital doctors sent him home with Gaviscon because the heart attack ward was closed.

Brian Gibb, 69, who was suffering from chest pains, arrived at his local hospital on a Saturday night to find the ward for heart attack and stroke patients closed because of staff shortages, the Daily Record reports.

His family say medics gave him an electrocardiogram scan but did not do a blood test which would have shown whether he had suffered a heart attack.

Instead, he was given Gaviscon, which is widely used to treat heartburn and indigestion, and told he could go home.

Brian’s wife Margaret, 67, found him dead in bed the next day. He left four children and nine grandchildren.

(Image: Jim Ryder)

Margaret is now demanding answers about the care Brian received before he died on Sunday, July 9.

Health Secretary Shona Robison has asked for a report on the tragedy.

Margaret said: “Brian never smoked or drank alcohol. He was very fit.

“He had just got a new three-litre Jaguar and we were planning to go away for two or three days up north in it.

“He drove himself to hospital and when he got there they put him on a monitor and said it wasn’t a heart attack.

“But the paramedic who came to the house after he died said they hadn’t followed correct procedure. He should have had that blood test.”

(Image: Google)

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Brian, who ran a car valet business, got home from the hospital at around 2am and went to bed.

“He slept but I didn’t,” Margaret said. “I was worried because he was never ill.”

In the morning, Brian told his wife he felt cold.

“He was used to being out in all weathers,” Margaret said. “I lit the fire but he just sat and drank tea all day. He didn’t want to eat anything.

“At about 7pm, he said he would be better sleeping. So he took himself to bed.

“He never shouted on me or anything but when I went up at 10pm the room was silent.

“Brian was a very noisy sleeper. He snored a lot so I knew something was wrong. I pulled back the cover and he was frozen.

“Less than 24 hours after he had been sent home from hospital, he was dead.”

The family are waiting for a post mortem but suspect Brian suffered a heart attack.

Margaret, from Stranraer, said: “They told him he had indigestion. He believed them and so did I.

“There has to be a full investigation into this at the hospital. Someone needs to get their fingers rapped for this.

“Because they didn’t carry out the appropriate tests, Brian lost the chance of the rest of his life.

“I have lost my husband, my children have lost their father and our nine grandchildren have lost their grandfather.”

Community leaders have been alarmed by staffing problems at the hospital, including on the Garrick Ward for heart attack and stroke patients.

Lack of staff has seen the hospital’s accident and emergency department downgraded to a minor injury unit.

The nearest A&E is at Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary – 75 miles away.

(Image: PA)

Local councillor Willie Scobie said: “The hospital needs to find out what has gone wrong in this case.

“Were there sufficient doctors to deal with everything?

“We need to know that Galloway Community Hospital is fit for purpose. We have dedicated staff, but it appears Dumfries and Galloway Health Board and the Scottish Government are not providing sufficient doctors.

“When you get to hospital you expect to find doctors capable of treating you. In Stranraer, you don’t know what you’re getting.”

Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar said: “This is yet another tragic case within the NHS where a family believe they were failed.

“There is a pattern of closures, downgrades and cuts across the NHS in Scotland directly related to staff shortages.

“That’s simply not good enough.”

(Image: Daily Record)

Tory health spokesman Miles Briggs said: “This is an extremely tragic story and a situation that could have been easily avoided.

“The fact they were unable to provide services in extremely important wards reveals the true extent of troubles in the NHS and Galloway Community Hospital.”

Robison said: “I am very sorry to hear about the death of Mr Gibb and would like to extend my condolences to his family. “I have urgently requested a full report on this incident.

“I have been clear with NHS Dumfries & Galloway that they should be working with Mr Gibb’s family to fully investigate the circumstances.”

NHS Dumfries and Galloway said: “Due to patient confidentiality, we are unable to comment on the medical details of individual patients. However, we can confirm that the hospital manager has been in contact with the family to express our deepest sympathies for their loss.

“A full review is being undertaken of the patient’s treatment. The outcome will be shared openly with the family.”

The board admitted they were still struggling with staff shortages.

They said: “Challenges remain in securing sufficient medical cover on an ongoing basis. We continue with our endeavours to recruit to the area.

“However, we would highlight that currently all services are operating normally.”