A Preventable Loss: How Delays in Care Led to a Tragic Outcome

A 45-year-old father of two, who had disabilities, lost his life due to sepsis. This happened because he did not get the right medicine on time. He was in the hospital for 34 hours without the antibiotics he needed. This was found by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) in a recent report. The man had a rare condition called Alexander’s Disease. This affects his nervous system. He also had other health problems. He needed help with daily tasks. He lived in a place where he got support. He had a permanent catheter. This made him more likely to get urinary infections. The man went to the hospital after his doctor sent him there. He had a urinary infection. The doctor had already prescribed IV antibiotics for him. But the hospital did not give him the medicine right away. They tried to give him a different antibiotic. But this one was not available. They did not ask for more advice. They should have known that IV antibiotics were needed.The man’s mother tried to tell the hospital staff about his needs. She knew he would not respond well to the oral antibiotic. But the doctors did not listen to her. They dismissed her concerns. This was a big mistake. The man became septic. He died a week later. The PHSO said his death could have been avoided. They also said that the hospital did not communicate well with the man and his family. This is a problem that happens too often. The PHSO wants to improve this in the NHS. The man’s mother was upset when she found out the truth. She thought he had at least gotten some treatment. But he did not get any medicine for 34 hours. This was very hard for her to accept. The hospital said they were sorry for what happened. They have made changes to how they prescribe and give antibiotics. But for this family, it is too late. They have lost a loved one because of mistakes that should not have happened.