Woman dies from blood clot after taking common contraceptive used by millions
Chloe Alicia Ellis, 29, died three days after she was wrongly diagnosed and discharged from hospital. She had earlier been diagnosed as having a suspected pulmonary embolism in an online assessment after she collapsed at home
A young woman tragically died three days after being misdiagnosed with a viral illness and subsequently discharged from hospital, said a coroner.
Chloe Alicia Ellis, a 29 year old wildlife officer, had previously been identified as potentially having a pulmonary embolism during an online assessment, but this crucial information was not available to the medical staff when she visited Dewsbury and District Hospital.
Chloe had complained of chest and back pain, as well as breathlessness. During an NHS 111 online assessment, she disclosed her history of using the Yasmin contraceptive pill to manage her endometriosis, an inquest in Wakefield was told.
Following the assessment on 31 August last year, she was advised to visit A&E due to the algorithm's conclusion that she might have a pulmonary embolism. However, Chloe herself was not informed of this potential diagnosis.
Regrettably, the results of the NHS online assessment were not accessible to the staff at Dewsbury Hospital. The inquest heard that an 'inadequate' history was taken from Chloe, as she was not questioned about her medication history or specifically her use of oral contraception.
Inadequate history taking
The hospital Trust has since implemented measures to address this issue of inadequate history taking, reports Yorkshire Live.
Chloe, who was married, was diagnosed with a viral illness at Dewsbury Hospital and sent home. She collapsed at home on 3 September and, despite the best efforts of paramedics and clinicians at Leeds General Infirmary, she died later that day.
The death of a young woman was caused by a pulmonary embolism, with the contributory factor being endometriosis treatment via the oral contraceptive pill.
Coroner Oliver Longstaff has since acted, by contacting the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board, issuing a stark warning to help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
At the heart of the coroner's report is the revelation that Chloe's life might have been saved if Dewsbury hospital staff had been alerted to her history with the contraceptive pill.
In his conclusion, the coroner made it clear: "...had a history of her oral contraceptive use been obtained when Chloe attended a local hospital Emergency Department on 31 August 2024, she would have been given anticoagulation medication and undergone tests that would have revealed the pulmonary embolism.
"She would have received effective treatment for the pulmonary embolism and, on the balance of probabilities, would not have died three days later."
Serious concerns
During the inquest, Mr Longstaff voiced four serious concerns regarding the events leading up to Chloe's death.
It was disclosed at the inquest that while it is technically feasible for NHS 111 online assessment outcomes to be shared with A&E staff, whether this happens is decided by the local Integrated Care Board.
Furthermore, the panel learned that connectivity to NHS 111 online assessments had not been established for the Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, which administers Dewsbury hospital, due to decisions made by the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board.
The coroner has highlighted that if the NHS online assessment completed by Chloe had been accessible to the medical staff at Dewsbury District Hospital, they would have been aware of her use of oral contraceptives and the suspected pulmonary embolism.
The coroner remarked: "The availability of NHS 111 online assessments to clinicians in emergency departments may assist in the obtaining of a full history and may act as a failsafe against inadequate history taking in Emergency Departments."
Mr Longstaff has requested a response from the West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board to his Prevention of Future Deaths report by August 8.
Regret
Expressing regret over the incident, the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board stated: "We are very sorry to hear about what happened to Chloe, and our sincere condolences go to her loved ones.
"We have been reviewing the points raised by the Coroner and we are working with all our relevant partners to understand the learning and the current arrangements to establish what changes are required in order to prevent similar losses in future."
In the wake of Chloe's heartbreaking passing, her friends, family, and colleagues have rallied behind a charity walk in her honour.
The Dozy Wanderers walk aims to gather £5,000 by trekking 213 miles from Ingleborough to Scarborough, passing through a nature reserve in Hull known as Paull Holme Strays.
Wildlife defender
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, where Chloe had been a fervent wildlife advocate, is among the charities set to benefit from her legacy. Chloe held a university degree and had experience as a planning officer for a local authority in West Yorkshire.
A charity spokesperson expressed to Yorkshire Live how much of a dedicated wildlife champion Chloe was.
"A keen defender and champion of wildlife, Chloe was a planning advocate at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, responding to applications, including those that could have a detrimental impact on the Trust's nature reserves and Yorkshire's wildlife.
"Her commitment to defending nature and her ability to navigate complex ecological and policy matters led to a number of successes for the Trust."
Rachael Bice, CEO at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, shared: "Chloe was a delight to work with and is dearly missed by us all. She was always enthusiastic in sharing her knowledge and experience to defend nature; a true natural advocate for wildlife. We will continue to honour Chloe's memory by upholding the values she championed and by striving to protect the natural world she loved so dearly."
Chloe's passion
The Trust praised Chloe's "passion for wildlife and dedication to our cause were truly inspiring, with her work being instrumental in securing a safe future for Yorkshire's wildlife."
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has expressed its heartfelt support for the Dozy Wanderers' fundraising initiative in memory of Chloe Ellis, a cherished colleague who tragically passed away last year at just 29 years old. In a social media post, the trust stated: "We at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust are deeply moved by the Dozy Wanderers' heartfelt initiative to raise funds in memory of our beloved colleague, Chloe Ellis, who tragically passed away last year at the age of 29."
The trust highlighted Chloe's remarkable dedication to wildlife conservation, saying: "Chloe's passion for wildlife and dedication to our cause were truly inspiring, with her work being instrumental in securing a safe future for Yorkshire's wildlife."
Ambitious trek
The Dozy Wanderers' ambitious 203-mile trek from Ingleborough to Paull Holme Strays in Hull, concluding in Scarborough in July 2025, aims to raise £5,000 for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Dementia UK. The trust urged everyone to rally behind the cause, stating: "Let's honour Chloe's memory and support these amazing causes together."
The Just Giving page has already garnered over £4,000 from 90 supporters, with the funds being split between Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and Dementia UK.
The Just Giving page can be found here.
Tributes have been pouring in on the page, with one donor writing: "For beautiful Chloe. Always in our hearts."
Another supporter shared: "For beautiful Chloe. May you always smile down on us. Missed every day. Loved for always."
A well-wisher added: "Good luck. Chloe was a lovely young lady."
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