A FORMER Carlisle HGV driver who lost his licence for drink-driving died in hospital due to infected leg ulcers for which he had declined emergency medical treatment, an inquest has heard.

Stephen William Glaister, 62, died in the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle of multi-organ failure caused by septic shock on February 17, 2024.

Paramedics took him to hospital at around 8pm on February 16 after being called to his home on Margaret Creighton Gardens by a district nurse who regularly visited him to dress his leg ulcers.

Mr Glaister's sister-in-law, Marie, became concerned when she could not reach him by phone, and he was not answering the door of his first-floor flat.

A statement submitted to Cockermouth Coroner’s Court by his brother, Gregory, he believed Mr Glaister's chronic leg ulcers were caused by his type-2 diabetes.

He said he had lost his job as an HGV driver for 'Eddie Stobart and other haulage firms' around three years ago when his licence was revoked for drink-driving.

According to statements submitted by district nurses and his GP, they had visited him regularly from January 31 after he had been referred for wound care and skin breakdown.

The district nurse clinical lead said that when she visited Mr Glaister’s property, it was 'cluttered and unkempt', with 'no functioning bathroom'.

She said that Mr Glaister was sleeping on a small sofa as his bedroom was 'not habitable' due to clutter.

The district nurse team said they had requested a deep clean of the property, as they were concerned about his health and their safety when performing their daily care of his wounds.

The request was refused however, as a deep clean had been performed in 2019, and the organisation needed evidence the property's cleanliness would be maintained.

On February 13, district nurses deemed the property an 'infestation risk' as two nurses had reported 'mites on their skin', and took to wearing white PPE bodysuits for their own safety.

On February 14, district nurses reported that he look unwell, 'grey', and was shaking, saying he hadn't eaten for three days.

Mr Glaister was deemed by professionals to have capacity to decline a hospital visit and he 'understood the risks' of the environment he lived in and not seeking emergency medical attention.

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An ambulance was called, citing a four-hour wait time, which Mr Glaister cancelled, saying he would go 'when it was right for him', and when he had arranged care for his cats.

It was explained to him he was at 'serious risk of death' due to the possibility of sepsis.

He continued to refuse, until February 16, when police forced entry to the property for paramedics and his sister-in-law due to concerns for his welfare.

At around 8pm, he agreed to accompany paramedics to hospital.

Mr Glaister went into cardiac arrest shortly after arrival into the emergency department in Carlisle.

Due to complications of infection, he went into cardiac arrest again, and could not be revived.

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Assistant coroner for Cumbria, Margaret Taylor, accepted the cause of death offered of multi-organ failure, caused by sepsis, brought on by infected leg ulcers.

Ms Taylor said: "The information received paints a very sad picture of someone who was a hoarder who was living in difficult circumstances.

“We've heard how district nurses tried to engage with Stephen, the GPs and also the social workers, but he wanted to deal with the issues on his own terms.

"He was assessed to have capacity to make unwise decisions.

"Undoubtedly the decision that he makes shortly before his death not to attend hospital has had fatal consequences."

His brother's statement said that Mr Glaister was 'always a gentleman', and 'very artistic', having been a talented sketcher and guitarist, having played lead guitar in local band The Rebels, who played regularly at the Ukrainian Club on Wigton Road for many years.

He said: "Stephen will be missed by myself and my family."