A 45-year-old father of two has died in a tragic incident after waiting for 34 hours to receive life-saving antibiotics at a hospital in the United Kingdom. An official investigation has concluded that his death was entirely preventable.
A Series of Critical Failures in Care
The disabled man, who had a rare neurological condition called Alexander disease, was referred to Bassetlaw Hospital in Nottinghamshire in November 2022. He needed intravenous (IV) antibiotics to treat a urinary infection, a common risk due to his permanent catheter.
Despite clear advice from paramedics and his care home staff about the urgent need for IV treatment, hospital doctors delayed. A report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) uncovered serious failures. Doctors initially opted for oral antibiotics after consulting a microbiologist, only to find the drug was unavailable.
The ombudsman stated that doctors should have sought further guidance, which would have likely led to faster IV treatment. The man finally received the correct medication more than a day after arriving, and even then, it was only at half the required dose.
Family Concerns Dismissed as Sepsis Took Hold
The man's mother repeatedly warned staff that oral antibiotics would not work, citing a microbiologist's report that confirmed this. She expressed feeling dismissed and was not informed that her son had received no treatment for a prolonged period.
"I was given the impression he had at least been given something," she said. "Finding out he had no treatment for all that time was devastating."
By the time a second, delayed dose was administered, the man had developed sepsis. He died a week later.
Apology, Compensation, and a Warning
The Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has agreed to formally apologise, offer financial compensation, and implement changes to prevent a recurrence. The trust's chief nurse said they were "truly sorry" and had strengthened procedures for prescribing and escalating antibiotic requests.
PHSO chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath described the case as deeply concerning. She noted that complaints about sepsis have more than doubled in the last five years, warning that repeated failures and poor communication continue to cost lives.
