They want answers as to why Mrs Appleby was not given proper assessment of her condition and despite her critical condition, an emergency trip to Sydney took 12 hours via air ambulance.

In August, the 32-year-old underwent open heart surgery in Royal North Shore Hospital for a mitral valve prolapse.

Two weeks after returning home, Mrs Appleby suffered a life threatening bleed from the wound in her heart which was undiagnosed and untreated for four days in Inverell District Hospital.

“A chest x-ray was conducted which showed that her heart was enlarged, her blood pressure was low and blood tests revealed some abnormalities, including her warfarin (INR) levels being twice the safe limit,” Mr Appleby said.

“Despite these results no further tests were undertaken and the surgical team in Sydney was not consulted.

“She was discharged with a diagnosis of a probable stomach virus but could not even walk to the car and needed a wheelchair.”

Then 24 hours later, Mrs Appleby was in such a bad state that her hsuband called an ambulance.

She was readmitted to the Inverell District Hospital and Mr Appleby decided to call the cardiologist in Sydney himself.

“The cardiologist then advised that the surgeon from Royal North Shore who conducted the original operation be consulted,” Mr Appleby said.

“This occurred and the surgeon immediately diagnosed tamponade, a life threatening condition where the heart is bleeding into the pericardium.

“She was then transported by air ambulance to Royal North Shore.”

But, despite the surgical team being on standby for an immediate operation the trip took 12 hours to complete.

Mr Appleby need to catch a commercial flight and still arrived six hours earlier.

By the time Lyn arrived at Royal North Shore it was 4am and she went into theatre not long after.

“During this operation 600ml of blood was drained from her heart sac, and a further 1.5 litres from her right lung, indicating the critical state that she was in,” Mr Appleby said.