ianstone
09-15-2010, 10:21 PM
Clinic sent my mum home like this ... she died 36 hours later
3088554
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http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01102/SNN1015AN-682_1102074a.jpg
Slideshows
(http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01102/SNN1015AN-682_1102074a.jpg)Agony ... Evelyn as her face began to swell
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01102/SNN1015DX-682_1102076a.jpg
Slideshows
(http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01102/SNN1015DX-682_1102076a.jpg)Healthy ... smiling Evelyn cuddles her grandson, six
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01102/SNN1015D-682_1102075a.jpg
Slideshows
(http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01102/SNN1015D-682_1102075a.jpg)Killer ... Flesh-eating bacteria must be treated with anti-biotics
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http://www.thesun.co.uk/img/global/spacer.gif
My View
By CAROL COOPER
Sun Doctor
THIS case is an absolute tragedy and must act as a learning experience for medical staff.
When someone enters a walk-in clinic with a facial swelling it can mean the person has a number of serious problems.
These include kidney problems, serious infections like this one, heart problems, liver disease and even auto-immune problems.
This is why these symptoms should be taken seriously.
In any situation, staff should always think: "What is the worst that this could be?"
A FLESH-eating bug killed a grandma 36 hours after an NHS clinic sent her home - insisting her badly-swollen face was caused by an allergy.
Evelyn Crawford, 69, was told to go to a chemist and buy some hay fever pills.
The next morning daughter Aileen, 45, found her writhing on the floor of her home in agony.
Hours later on Saturday she died in intensive care after what is thought to be the necrotising fasciitis flesh-eating bug devoured her face and ravaged her body.
Angry son-in-law Steve Hammond, 45, said: "If the doctors had recognised the disease straight off and given her antibiotics, Evelyn would still be here.
"Instead, she was told to take a Piriton and 36 hours later she was dead. It's a tragedy.
"She was in good health previously. We do not want another person turned away like this."
Staff at Peterborough Hospital first noticed the severe facial swelling while Evelyn - who had three grandkids, including James, six - was having a knee X-ray.
They advised her to go to the nearby walk-in medical centre, where staff thought she was just suffering an allergic reaction.
The necrotising fasciitis bacteria can enter the skin through the tiniest cut before releasing flesh and muscle-destroying toxins.
It strikes more than 500 people in Britain every year, mainly the over-60s. Swift treatment with antibiotics is the only cure.
The NHS could not comment due to patient confidentiality.
3088554
1
/sol/
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01102/SNN1015AN-682_1102074a.jpg
Slideshows
(http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01102/SNN1015AN-682_1102074a.jpg)Agony ... Evelyn as her face began to swell
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01102/SNN1015DX-682_1102076a.jpg
Slideshows
(http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01102/SNN1015DX-682_1102076a.jpg)Healthy ... smiling Evelyn cuddles her grandson, six
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01102/SNN1015D-682_1102075a.jpg
Slideshows
(http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01102/SNN1015D-682_1102075a.jpg)Killer ... Flesh-eating bacteria must be treated with anti-biotics
1 of 3
http://www.thesun.co.uk/img/global/spacer.gif
My View
By CAROL COOPER
Sun Doctor
THIS case is an absolute tragedy and must act as a learning experience for medical staff.
When someone enters a walk-in clinic with a facial swelling it can mean the person has a number of serious problems.
These include kidney problems, serious infections like this one, heart problems, liver disease and even auto-immune problems.
This is why these symptoms should be taken seriously.
In any situation, staff should always think: "What is the worst that this could be?"
A FLESH-eating bug killed a grandma 36 hours after an NHS clinic sent her home - insisting her badly-swollen face was caused by an allergy.
Evelyn Crawford, 69, was told to go to a chemist and buy some hay fever pills.
The next morning daughter Aileen, 45, found her writhing on the floor of her home in agony.
Hours later on Saturday she died in intensive care after what is thought to be the necrotising fasciitis flesh-eating bug devoured her face and ravaged her body.
Angry son-in-law Steve Hammond, 45, said: "If the doctors had recognised the disease straight off and given her antibiotics, Evelyn would still be here.
"Instead, she was told to take a Piriton and 36 hours later she was dead. It's a tragedy.
"She was in good health previously. We do not want another person turned away like this."
Staff at Peterborough Hospital first noticed the severe facial swelling while Evelyn - who had three grandkids, including James, six - was having a knee X-ray.
They advised her to go to the nearby walk-in medical centre, where staff thought she was just suffering an allergic reaction.
The necrotising fasciitis bacteria can enter the skin through the tiniest cut before releasing flesh and muscle-destroying toxins.
It strikes more than 500 people in Britain every year, mainly the over-60s. Swift treatment with antibiotics is the only cure.
The NHS could not comment due to patient confidentiality.