Patient died after Trust failed to treat sepsis appropriately

Summary 824 |

Miss L complained that her father, Mr L, did not receive the correct treatment when he went to hospital with a lump on his buttock, and that he was discharged so soon.


What happened

Mr L went into hospital with a painful lump on his buttock, and tests showed that this was an infection. Doctors tried to remove fluid from the lump but were not successful. Staff did not feel surgery was needed and discharged Mr L home with antibiotics. He returned to hospital three weeks later with intense pain in his foot. Clinicians found that the infection had spread, and Mr L died a few days later.

Miss L complained to the Trust as she felt the Trust should have treated her father's infection better and should not have sent him home after his initial admission to hospital. The Trust said the two admissions were unconnected. It said that the infection Mr L had on the second admission was a fast?acting infection that would have spread quicker than the three weeks between admissions.

Miss L thought that the lack of care and treatment the Trust provided led to her father's death. She was not happy with the Trust's explanations and wanted further explanations and an apology.

What we found

On his first admission to hospital, Mr L showed signs of sepsis. The Trust did not treat this appropriately and should not have sent Mr L home without surgery or appropriate treatment. The subsequent infection was linked to the first admission. The lack of appropriate treatment when Mr L was first in hospital compromised his chances of survival.

Putting it right

The Trust apologised to Miss L and paid her £2,000 compensation. It also drew up plans to address its shortcomings.

Health or Parliamentary
Health
Organisations we investigated

The Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Location

Tyne and Wear

Complainants' concerns ?

Came to an unsound decision

Result

Apology

Compensation for non-financial loss

Recommendation to learn lessons or draw up an action plan