Former teacher died after contracting superbug

An inquest heard that Jenny Holroyd contracted clostridium difficile colitis and died of septicaemia 13 days after she was admitted to Royal Blackburn Hospital following a fall at her residential home.

And her nephew, Michael Sykes, said it seemed amazing that she should die as a result of something she contracted in hospital.

"It seems such a shame she should go through the operation for the fall and then the hospital borne infection kills her. In this day and age it's just amazing."

After the hearing, Lynn Wissett, the trust's director of clinical care and governance, said that measures taken to reduce hospital-associated infections are proving effective.

She added: "I would like to reassure patients and their families that they can have confidence in their local hospitals and the measures that are being taken to combat hospital-associated infection."

But Dr Tom Smith, a Lancashire Telegraph columnist, said the superbug was becoming more and more common across the country.

The inquest heard that Mrs Holroyd, 92, was found on the floor of her room at Longworth House, Higher Ramsgreave, Blackburn, on January 23. She was admitted to Royal Blackburn Hospital where she underwent surgery for a fractured neck of femur. Pathologist Mr Richard Prescott said the operation had been successful and there was no infection at the site. However the large bowel showed extensive inflammation and colitis was present.

He said clostridium difficile was isolated before Mrs Holroyd's death.

"This is a very serious infection which undoubtedly caused her demise," said Mr Prescott. "It caused ulcerations of the entire large bowel and the organism produced toxins which entered into the blood stream."

The medical cause of death was given as septicaemia due to clostridium difficile (C.difficile) which she acquired in hospital.

Coroner Michael Singleton recorded a narrative verdict which reflected the sequence of events leading to Mrs Holroyd's death.