London — September 10, 2026
A private hospital’s failure to provide preventative medication contributed to the death of Lady Joan Branson, wife of billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson, an inquest has concluded.
Lady Joan, 80, died on November 24, 2025, after suffering a cardiac arrest at the Lister Hospital in Chelsea, west London. The inquest heard that she died from a pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis.
She had been admitted to the hospital on November 17 after suffering a fall weeks earlier at Necker Island, the Caribbean retreat owned by her husband. The fall resulted in fractures to her pelvis and right hip, leaving her with significant mobility problems.
High risk of blood clots
Medical evidence presented at Westminster Coroner’s Court indicated that Lady Joan was at an extremely high risk of developing potentially fatal blood clots because of her fractures and immobility.
However, she did not receive prophylactic anticoagulation — medication intended to prevent dangerous blood clots — during her hospital stay.
Haematologist Dr George Adams told the inquest that preventative anticoagulation would probably have reduced the likelihood of a fatal pulmonary embolism and may have prevented her death.
The court also heard that an immediate venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment was not completed when Lady Joan was admitted. Her daughter, Dr Holly Branson, said her mother also did not receive special compression stockings during the first 48 hours of her admission.
Coroner’s conclusion
Senior coroner Professor Fiona Wilcox concluded that Lady Joan’s death was likely preventable and that the lack of anticoagulation probably caused or contributed to her death.
However, the coroner stressed that she did not consider the case to be one of neglect, saying there had not been an absence of treatment.
Doctors involved in Lady Joan’s care acknowledged shortcomings. One doctor told the inquest that she should have received preventative anticoagulation within 12 hours of admission and described the failure as creating a significant risk.
The hospital has since undertaken work to strengthen its procedures for VTE assessment and prevention.
Family remembers Lady Joan
Following his wife’s death, Sir Richard Branson paid tribute to Lady Joan, describing her as the “shining star” around which his family’s universe had always revolved.
The couple had been together for decades and shared two children, Holly and Sam.
The inquest has now highlighted the potentially devastating consequences of failing to identify and manage blood-clot risks promptly, particularly among patients who are immobile or have suffered major fractures.
