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Grandmother's Death: Hospital Ignores Allergy Warnings
7 Apr
Summary
- Grandmother died after staff administered penicillin, despite allergy warnings.
- Hospital staff missed signs of critical limb ischaemia in patient.
- Family describes treatment as 'appalling, degrading, and undignified'.
Marianne Mortemore, a 69-year-old grandmother, tragically passed away following a series of serious errors by NHS staff at the University Hospital of North Durham. Initially admitted for a skin condition in February 2024, staff failed to identify critical limb ischaemia, a condition affecting her leg's blood flow. This diagnosis was only made by chance after her family requested a podiatrist's assistance.
Despite persistent warnings from her family about Marianne's severe penicillin allergy, clearly marked by bracelets and in her medical notes, she was mistakenly given another patient's penicillin. This administration led to a heart attack, and she died several days later. Her family expressed profound anger and sorrow, describing her treatment as "a catalogue of errors" and "undignified."
Further issues during her six-day hospital stay included being left without a pillow, delayed medication administration, and an incident where she was left in severe pain while a catheter was inserted. A nurse was even observed leaving her bedside to socialize with visitors. After being transferred to Sunderland Royal Hospital for specialist care, Marianne succumbed to complications from the earlier medication error.
