Husband died after a failure to recall him to hospital when serious infection in his blood was diagnosed by laboratory

On 21 February 2022, a man in his 60s who we will refer to as Neil, was brought to Sandwell General Hospital via ambulance with a fever, vomiting, symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI), as well as an acute kidney injury.  

While in hospital, Neil was treated with antibiotics. The next morning, when he was reviewed by a consultant, his blood tests showed an improvement in infection markers, and he was discharged home with a course of oral antibiotics.

Results of blood cultures tests were not ready before Neil was discharged home.

On 1 March 2022, a doctor from the microbiology department noted that the blood culture taken from Neil on 22 February, had grown Methicillin Sensitive Staphylococcus (MSSA) bacteria – this is also known as a staph infection. Neil required different, specific antibiotics to treat his infection. Whilst the results were reported to Neil’s treating team, they disregarded these findings, instead concluding that the results likely represented a contamination of the sample taken.  

Later that day, a doctor called Neil but did not advise of the urgent need to return to hospital for treatment for the staph infection. Instead, Neil and his family understood that this call was a wellbeing check following his recent hospital admission.  

Three days later, Neil called 111 and had a telephone appointment with an out-of-hours GP who noted that Neil was still feeling tired and had developed a cough with yellow sputum, a mixture of saliva and mucus.  

The out-of-hours GP diagnosed a lower respiratory tract infection and ongoing urinary tract infection. Neil was prescribed a course of oral antibiotics.  

He was told that a request for a blood test would be sent to his usual GP, but he was not called for a test. His GP was not made aware of the results from the hospital and was not aware of which antibiotics Neil ought to be receiving.

By 10 March 2022, Neil was suffering with head pain and looked pale and grey in colour. He also seemed to have lost his appetite.  

An ambulance was called to his home on 18 March, after Neil’s wife found him collapsed on the bedroom floor, confused and complaining of abdominal pain.  

Paramedics diagnosed Neil with probable urosepsis with a fever. Urosepsis is a type of sepsis where a UTI goes untreated and spreads to the kidneys. He was taken to hospital for further examination, and he remained unwell in the emergency department. He was diagnosed with catheter-associated urosepsis, an acute kidney injury and a lower respiratory tract infection.  

Neil’s blood pressure dropped, and a member of the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) team was called to examine him. He was then admitted to the Intensive Therapy Unit for non-invasive ventilation. 

By 23 March, Neil’s condition had deteriorated significantly. He was found to be suffering from endocarditis – an infection of the inner lining of the heart associated with an uncontrolled and invasive staph infection. 

On 24 March, a CT scan revealed multiple Neil had had ischemic strokes, which occurs due to disrupted blood flow to the brain. He had also developed multiple organ failure and remained unconscious.  

An MRI brain scan on 25 March confirmed that Neil had an extensive haematoma, where blood collects outside of a blood vessel, with bleeding into the brain. The neurosurgical team at the hospital advised that no surgical intervention at this stage would be of benefit.  

There was no prospect of recovery and treatment was withdrawn.  

Neil’s daughter instructed the medical negligence team at law firm Leigh Day who were able to settle the claim for a five-figure sum in July 2025.  

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust admitted a failure to recall Neil for treatment following his blood test results in March that indicated MSSA bacteria. 

The trust also admitted that if the results had been properly acted upon, Neil would have been treated with the appropriate antibiotic treatment, and that it was likely that he would have not deteriorated and suffered sepsis and brain injury as a result of the staph infection, and that his death would have been avoided.  

Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust further apologised to Neil’s family for the care that Neil received. A Serious Incident investigation also took place to address the failings in Neil’s care, recommending changes to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.  

Neil’s family was represented in their claim by medical negligence partner Lauren Tully and trainee solicitor Ross Lively. Lauren said:  

“Neil’s family have been thoroughly brave throughout this lengthy process. No settlement sum will ever be enough to make up for the avoidable death of a loved one, but I am hopeful that this process has brought answers and closure to Neil’s family.  

“By bringing this claim, Neil’s family have brought justice on his behalf and have been a key part of identifying communication issues that could prevent the same errors from happening again to someone else.”