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Mother Dies After NHS Neglect, Coroner Rules
11 Mar
Summary
- A mother died from sepsis due to incorrect antibiotics prescribed by NHS staff.
- The coroner ruled the mother would likely have survived with proper treatment.
- The hospital trust has apologised for their failure and promised staff training.
A mother's death from sepsis has been attributed to the negligence of NHS staff who administered incorrect antibiotics, an inquest has found. Aleisha Rochester, 33, died in August 2023, two weeks after a routine procedure to remove an abscess.
Despite seeking help multiple times for her worsening condition, Ms Rochester was prescribed antibiotics that did not combat the bacteria causing her infection. The inquest revealed that the hospital trust failed to adhere to its own guidelines on antibiotic administration. It was concluded that she would likely have lived had she received the correct medication.
Her mother described Aleisha as an "amazing mummy" to her eight-year-old son, Xavier, emphasizing the immense void left by her absence and the heartbreak that she will not see him grow up.
The St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals Trust has apologised for the failure, stating they were "extremely sorry" and offered their condolences. They assured the family that measures, including further training on sepsis recognition and correct antibiotic prescribing, have been implemented to prevent recurrences.
A medical negligence lawyer noted the coroner's finding of "gross failure to provide Aleisha with basic medical care," underscoring the ongoing impact of sepsis on families and the critical need for lessons to be learned from this tragic case.
