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Mix-up led to widow's death
A WIDOW died of brain damage after staff at the Whittington Hospital accidentally contaminated test results by mixing up sugar and salt solutions, an inquest heard.
Nurses used a sugar ‘flush’ on Patricia Osborne, 85, instead of the saline used to prevent blood clots, St Pancras Coroner’s Court was told last Thursday.
Mrs Osborne was recovering from an operation on her abdomen.
This skewed blood tests and caused doctors to treat her for a condition she did not have.
The inquest was told the fatal mistake caused Mrs Osborne’s blood sugar levels to be recorded as high although they were actually normal.
She died in April after more than a month in hospital.
Her death has caused an internal investigation at the Whittington and sparked changes in hospital procedure.
Matron Bridget Kilbride told the court the saline and sugar solutions, which both come in the same packaging, must now be checked by the shift co-ordinator and by nurses at shift handover. Abnormal test results will now also be double checked.
Mrs Osborne, from Friern Barnet, was rushed to hospital in March with abdominal pains.
A Whittington Hospital spokeswoman said: “The Whittington sends its sincere condolences to the family on the death of their mother. The hospital reported the incident at the time to the National Patient Safety Agency and following a thorough investigation, has taken steps to ensure that this does not happen again.” |
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