Leeds University student William Hewes tragically died after there were delays in giving him vital antibiotics at Homerton University Hospital where his mum worked, an inquest heard
It is not clear whether a healthy 22-year-old who fell seriously ill while writing a university essay would have survived if NHS doctors listened to his mum’s desperate plea for antibiotics, an inquest heard.
Leeds University student William Hewes passed away just hours after arriving at Homerton University Hospital in east London, where his mum, Deborah Burns, had been a paediatric consultant for the last 20 years. William, who was 6ft 6in and weighed around 16st, died on January 21, 2023. Coroner Mary Hassell said it was not possible to determine conclusively that he would have lived had he been treated earlier upon his arrival.
Ms Hassell said William “was already very unwell when he arrived (at hospital) and it is unclear whether if he had been administered all appropriate treatment promptly, his life would have been saved”. Ms Hassell gave the medical cause of death as meningococcal septicaemia in a narrative conclusion today.
Following the ruling, Dr Burns said: “I hope that the outcome of the coroner’s inquest can lead to learning and improvement to the care of people with sepsis in the future.”
The inquest had previously heard William fell ill while trying to write a university essay. He had been suffering headaches, a fever and blurred vision. When his condition worsened his mum took him to Homerton’s A&E just after midnight.
She told colleagues she believed her son had meningococcal sepsis. Dr Burns had asked staff to administer antibiotics in the first hour of his treatment. However, following a misunderstanding between a doctor and nurses, it was not given until 1.25am, the coroner’s court heard. Instead he was being treated with fluids, morphine, paracetamol, and medication to prevent nausea.
Ms Hassell said William was not treated “with the urgency he should have been” but added: “It is unclear whether, if he had been administered all appropriate treatment promptly, his life would have been saved.”
She said: “I am not convinced, even on the balance of probabilities, that the state of medical knowledge is such that we know the answer to the question of whether William would have survived had he received earlier treatment. My conclusion is that I simply do not know whether earlier treatment would have saved William.”
Homerton Healthcare NHS trust said in a statement following the ruling: “We will take onboard what the coroner has said in relation to the actions we have taken and will be sharing these nationally with our NHS colleagues.
“We know that the impact of William’s death on his mother was compounded by it happening in the hospital where she works. Deborah has told us that our policies and processes for this situation are inadequate and detached and we are determined to learn from her experience.
“This work will ensure a more personal response for staff members or members of their family who are patients here. Our thoughts remain with Deborah and her family during this incredibly difficult time.”
