Inquest into death of chief nurse opened

Sam Young was found at a farm in Baschurch on 19 June

An inquest has been formally opened and adjourned into the death of a chief nurse.

Sam Young, 58, was declared dead at a farm near her home in Baschurch, Shropshire, on 19 June after emergency services were called to reports of a woman in cardiac arrest, a coroner was told.

Heath Westerman, assistant coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, heard that despite the best efforts of medics on scene Ms Young did not respond to CPR.

Ms Young was the interim chief nursing officer at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH), near Oswestry.

Hospital staff said they were "truly saddened" to confirm the death.

The hospital's chief executive, Stacey Keegan, said the news had "come as a huge shock to colleagues across the organisation.

"She was an excellent and supportive colleague, and was proud of the work we do here and of the colleagues that deliver such exceptional care.

"She was held in extremely high regard by everyone at RJAH thanks to her excellent clinical knowledge, her absolute dedication to patient care, but most notably the quality of her character. She was a kind, fun and compassionate person. We will miss her enormously."

The inquest was adjourned until 2 October.