Woman sent home from hospital with 'migraine' dies from meningitis
- 27.02.2018
- EmmaArnold
- Clinical-negligence, Clinical-negligence
A mother-of-five, who was left bedridden from tiredness and headaches, died from meningitis after being mistakenly diagnosed with a migraine.
Lissa Beechey, 39, was given an urgent referral to hospital from her GP who suspected she had meningitis. However, she was sent home with paracetamol after being diagnosed with a migraine.
Ten days later, she was admitted back to hospital and transferred to specialist neurologists at University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff but sadly died from a form of the illness called Tuberculosis (TB) meningitis.
Lissa's husband said she showed the signs of meningitis when she was first seen ten days earlier with headaches and her eyes were so sensitive she had to wear sunglasses to block out the light.
Her symptoms eventually worsened and when she was admitted she was in a confused and disorientated state.
The Trust have now accepted responsibility for the shortcomings in Ms Beechey’s care, issued an apology to her family and agreed compensation in an out of court settlement.
Hannah Bottomley, clinical negligence solicitor at Potter Rees Dolan commented:
TB meningitis is a rare but very serious condition and it is important that those presenting with symptoms are properly investigated which sadly does not appear to have been the case here.
I sadly speak with families who have lost loved ones due to misdiagnosis of serious conditions and understand how difficult it is to come to terms with the fact that the person who has died could have survived had they been diagnosed and treatment started.
I hope that the apology and acceptance of shortcomings allow Ms Beechey’s family the opportunity to come to terms with her death and I hope that the Trust involved makes improvements to ensure this does not happen again.
Hannah Bottomley is a clinical negligence solicitor here at Potter Rees Dolan. Should you have any queries about clinical negligence issues or indeed any other aspect of this article and wish to speak to Hannah or any other member of the team please contact us on 0161 237 5888 or email Hannah directly.