Blackburn mother caught deadly infections after hospital treatment

12:00pm Wednesday 12th September 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By Catherine Pye, Health reporter

AN ‘adoring’ mother-of-three died after contracting MRSA and E-Coli at Royal Blackburn Hospital , a coroner heard.

Elizabeth Walsh, 61, of Curzon Place, Blackburn, was admitted to the hospital in Sepetmber 20, 2011, suffering from Crohn’s disease and small bowel obstructions from previous surgery.

The hearing was told that she contracted MRSA twice during her treatment and E-Coli was also found to be present in her urine.

Mrs Walsh, a retired mill worker, was admitted to the critical care unit with sepsis on November 12, but her condition continued to worsen, and she died on November 20.

Recording a narrative verdict, Coroner Michael Singleton said: “Both MRSA and E-Coli infections had a part to play.

“Clearly, it seems to me it is very relevant this lady had Crohn’s disease, that’s why she was in hospital and the treatment for that caused her to be immuno-suppressed and at more risk of infections.

“It would be wrong to describe it as a natural cause of death, as a Hickman line and the risk of infection was not natural.

“To say it was simply medical misadventure would fail to appreciate the underlying problems this lady had.”

The cause of death was given as multi-organ failure due to sepsis due to infected Hickman line and urosepsis. The contributory factor was Crohn’s Disease.

Daughter Carol Walsh, a councillor for Mill Hill, said: “She was an adoring mother who did everything for us, and to lose her in this way has been extremely tragic.”

Comments (13)

3:04pm Wed 12 Sep 12

chris283 says...

blackburn hospital again in the news well no surprise there it should be shut down god bless you love
blackburn hospital again in the news well no surprise there it should be shut down god bless you love chris283

3:22pm Wed 12 Sep 12

eastlancslad says...

chris283: Earlier this year I spent 10 days on C14 ward, (including a major operation), and I cannot fault the staff or the service. These things happen, and the MRSA could have been brought into the hospital by a visitor.
chris283: Earlier this year I spent 10 days on C14 ward, (including a major operation), and I cannot fault the staff or the service. These things happen, and the MRSA could have been brought into the hospital by a visitor. eastlancslad

3:39pm Wed 12 Sep 12

chris283 says...

well how do you explain to me they sent my partner home with a fractured skull when i asked a few times she needs a x ray and scan just for her to be sent home
well how do you explain to me they sent my partner home with a fractured skull when i asked a few times she needs a x ray and scan just for her to be sent home chris283

3:49pm Wed 12 Sep 12

chris283 says...

but like you say things do happen and i agree with you but it always seems to be in this hospital explaine please because i do not know
but like you say things do happen and i agree with you but it always seems to be in this hospital explaine please because i do not know chris283

5:14pm Wed 12 Sep 12

positive resident says...

eastlancslad wrote:
chris283: Earlier this year I spent 10 days on C14 ward, (including a major operation), and I cannot fault the staff or the service. These things happen, and the MRSA could have been brought into the hospital by a visitor.
So pleased to hear you had a nice experience at RBH sadly we didnt these things happen my mother went into hospital to get better not to die and if you read the coroners statement my mother caught mrsa in her hickman line which could have only be caught by the very people i trusted to look after her.You spent 10 days in hospital my mother spent 2 months and believe you see what goes on in that lengh of time my mother was supposed to be going to hope hospital for further treatment but never made it i wish you well and hope you never have to suffer like my family have but never say these things happen i can assure you my mother should still be alive today i cant go into details at this point but her death could and should have been prevented.
[quote][p][bold]eastlancslad[/bold] wrote: chris283: Earlier this year I spent 10 days on C14 ward, (including a major operation), and I cannot fault the staff or the service. These things happen, and the MRSA could have been brought into the hospital by a visitor.[/p][/quote]So pleased to hear you had a nice experience at RBH sadly we didnt these things happen my mother went into hospital to get better not to die and if you read the coroners statement my mother caught mrsa in her hickman line which could have only be caught by the very people i trusted to look after her.You spent 10 days in hospital my mother spent 2 months and believe you see what goes on in that lengh of time my mother was supposed to be going to hope hospital for further treatment but never made it i wish you well and hope you never have to suffer like my family have but never say these things happen i can assure you my mother should still be alive today i cant go into details at this point but her death could and should have been prevented. positive resident

5:16pm Wed 12 Sep 12

positive resident says...

chris283 wrote:
blackburn hospital again in the news well no surprise there it should be shut down god bless you love
Thank you i agree 100% with your comment.
[quote][p][bold]chris283[/bold] wrote: blackburn hospital again in the news well no surprise there it should be shut down god bless you love[/p][/quote]Thank you i agree 100% with your comment. positive resident

7:01pm Wed 12 Sep 12

chris283 says...

sorry for your loss but there should be somert done like i said i told them on many occasions regarding a x ray and scan but did they listen not a chance close it down end of story its unprofessional if i were you i would take a private prosecution against them i would but my partner does not want the hassle she has still not fully recovered but if something does happen to her god for bid that is what will be happening
sorry for your loss but there should be somert done like i said i told them on many occasions regarding a x ray and scan but did they listen not a chance close it down end of story its unprofessional if i were you i would take a private prosecution against them i would but my partner does not want the hassle she has still not fully recovered but if something does happen to her god for bid that is what will be happening chris283

8:11pm Wed 12 Sep 12

positive resident says...

Things are far from over that is all i can say.
Things are far from over that is all i can say. positive resident

8:18pm Wed 12 Sep 12

BritainfortheBritish says...

The facts are ... Since the tories privatised the NHS cleaners the wards etc have had very poor cleaning services . This poor cleaning has been carried on since this was done ny the tories and allowed to continue by labour.

Cleaning used to be done by regular cleaners then all of a sudden the same cleaner had to clean 2 or 3 / 4 wards instead of one .

This is because other cleaners had been laid off. MRSA can be dormant and cause no problems or can cause problems . The same is the same for E Coli . Some people have it in their urine with no problems .Others have problems . The right antibiotics for the right length of time may have cured this .
It is a tragic occassion all the way through .
The facts are ... Since the tories privatised the NHS cleaners the wards etc have had very poor cleaning services . This poor cleaning has been carried on since this was done ny the tories and allowed to continue by labour. Cleaning used to be done by regular cleaners then all of a sudden the same cleaner had to clean 2 or 3 / 4 wards instead of one . This is because other cleaners had been laid off. MRSA can be dormant and cause no problems or can cause problems . The same is the same for E Coli . Some people have it in their urine with no problems .Others have problems . The right antibiotics for the right length of time may have cured this . It is a tragic occassion all the way through . BritainfortheBritish

8:20pm Wed 12 Sep 12

BritainfortheBritish says...

The facts are ... Since the tories privatised the NHS cleaners the wards etc have had very poor cleaning services . This poor cleaning has been carried on since this was done ny the tories and allowed to continue by labour.

Cleaning used to be done by regular cleaners then all of a sudden the same cleaner had to clean 2 or 3 / 4 wards instead of one .

This is because other cleaners had been laid off. MRSA can be dormant and cause no problems or can cause problems . The same is the same for E Coli . Some people have it in their urine with no problems .Others have problems . The right antibiotics for the right length of time may have cured this .
It is a tragic occassion all the way through .
The facts are ... Since the tories privatised the NHS cleaners the wards etc have had very poor cleaning services . This poor cleaning has been carried on since this was done ny the tories and allowed to continue by labour. Cleaning used to be done by regular cleaners then all of a sudden the same cleaner had to clean 2 or 3 / 4 wards instead of one . This is because other cleaners had been laid off. MRSA can be dormant and cause no problems or can cause problems . The same is the same for E Coli . Some people have it in their urine with no problems .Others have problems . The right antibiotics for the right length of time may have cured this . It is a tragic occassion all the way through . BritainfortheBritish

9:53pm Wed 12 Sep 12

johnleo says...

BritainfortheBritish wrote:
The facts are ... Since the tories privatised the NHS cleaners the wards etc have had very poor cleaning services . This poor cleaning has been carried on since this was done ny the tories and allowed to continue by labour. Cleaning used to be done by regular cleaners then all of a sudden the same cleaner had to clean 2 or 3 / 4 wards instead of one . This is because other cleaners had been laid off. MRSA can be dormant and cause no problems or can cause problems . The same is the same for E Coli . Some people have it in their urine with no problems .Others have problems . The right antibiotics for the right length of time may have cured this . It is a tragic occassion all the way through .
Why are cleaner paid so little for doing a job that saves lives. Treat them with the respect they deserve and you wouldn't have such a high turnover of staff.
[quote][p][bold]BritainfortheBritish[/bold] wrote: The facts are ... Since the tories privatised the NHS cleaners the wards etc have had very poor cleaning services . This poor cleaning has been carried on since this was done ny the tories and allowed to continue by labour. Cleaning used to be done by regular cleaners then all of a sudden the same cleaner had to clean 2 or 3 / 4 wards instead of one . This is because other cleaners had been laid off. MRSA can be dormant and cause no problems or can cause problems . The same is the same for E Coli . Some people have it in their urine with no problems .Others have problems . The right antibiotics for the right length of time may have cured this . It is a tragic occassion all the way through .[/p][/quote]Why are cleaner paid so little for doing a job that saves lives. Treat them with the respect they deserve and you wouldn't have such a high turnover of staff. johnleo

8:32am Thu 13 Sep 12

BritainfortheBritish says...

johnleo wrote:
BritainfortheBritish wrote:
The facts are ... Since the tories privatised the NHS cleaners the wards etc have had very poor cleaning services . This poor cleaning has been carried on since this was done ny the tories and allowed to continue by labour. Cleaning used to be done by regular cleaners then all of a sudden the same cleaner had to clean 2 or 3 / 4 wards instead of one . This is because other cleaners had been laid off. MRSA can be dormant and cause no problems or can cause problems . The same is the same for E Coli . Some people have it in their urine with no problems .Others have problems . The right antibiotics for the right length of time may have cured this . It is a tragic occassion all the way through .
Why are cleaner paid so little for doing a job that saves lives. Treat them with the respect they deserve and you wouldn't have such a high turnover of staff.
Blame the tories .It was all part of their privatisation .Labour allowed it to carry on and now conlib are doing the same . Minimum staff on minimum wage .
Our local hospitals have very recently changed contractors again !!!
It cannot be any good for patients.
[quote][p][bold]johnleo[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]BritainfortheBritish[/bold] wrote: The facts are ... Since the tories privatised the NHS cleaners the wards etc have had very poor cleaning services . This poor cleaning has been carried on since this was done ny the tories and allowed to continue by labour. Cleaning used to be done by regular cleaners then all of a sudden the same cleaner had to clean 2 or 3 / 4 wards instead of one . This is because other cleaners had been laid off. MRSA can be dormant and cause no problems or can cause problems . The same is the same for E Coli . Some people have it in their urine with no problems .Others have problems . The right antibiotics for the right length of time may have cured this . It is a tragic occassion all the way through .[/p][/quote]Why are cleaner paid so little for doing a job that saves lives. Treat them with the respect they deserve and you wouldn't have such a high turnover of staff.[/p][/quote]Blame the tories .It was all part of their privatisation .Labour allowed it to carry on and now conlib are doing the same . Minimum staff on minimum wage . Our local hospitals have very recently changed contractors again !!! It cannot be any good for patients. BritainfortheBritish

5:37pm Fri 14 Sep 12

blackburn-chick says...

My grandad has terminal cancer in the lung which had spread to hes bones. he had a broken arm for 14 weeks and he was not treated for this. he re-broke his arm, ended bck in hospital as he was in agony with the pain, sadly he died with a heart attack as the stress on his body topped him off. The coroner phoned and asked us why he was left with a broken arm for so long. we could not anwer that!! after he died they sent him a letter for an appointment up there??? i understand they all use their own systems in each departments but the lack of communication, how much he was transferred about from blackburn to burnley to preston to blackpool he had no help with this!! it sickens me the sheer thought of how he was treated it hurts me.
My sister went over the handle bars on her bike the last week in august she went to the hospital because she was weeing blood. they kept her in for 2 days and sent her home after a scan. The blood was still in her urine and they told us she must have grazed her bladder. They said we will invite you in for an appointment to check up .... the appointment was for 2 months after?
what the hell is that all about? I hve no faith in the NHS and if i was to be in a vulerable state i would be scared for the care i would receive. No one seems to have any answers when you try to speak to someone. you get passed from pillar to post and its ridiculous!!
My grandad has terminal cancer in the lung which had spread to hes bones. he had a broken arm for 14 weeks and he was not treated for this. he re-broke his arm, ended bck in hospital as he was in agony with the pain, sadly he died with a heart attack as the stress on his body topped him off. The coroner phoned and asked us why he was left with a broken arm for so long. we could not anwer that!! after he died they sent him a letter for an appointment up there??? i understand they all use their own systems in each departments but the lack of communication, how much he was transferred about from blackburn to burnley to preston to blackpool he had no help with this!! it sickens me the sheer thought of how he was treated it hurts me. My sister went over the handle bars on her bike the last week in august she went to the hospital because she was weeing blood. they kept her in for 2 days and sent her home after a scan. The blood was still in her urine and they told us she must have grazed her bladder. They said we will invite you in for an appointment to check up .... the appointment was for 2 months after? what the hell is that all about? I hve no faith in the NHS and if i was to be in a vulerable state i would be scared for the care i would receive. No one seems to have any answers when you try to speak to someone. you get passed from pillar to post and its ridiculous!! blackburn-chick

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