A Wirral hospital failed to provide a basic standard of care to a severely disabled woman who died from an infected bed sore at the age of 35.
Claire Williams, of Bridle Close, Prenton, was admitted to Arrowe Park hospital on two separate occasions, in July 2019 and February 2021.
An inquest into her death held at Liverpool Coroners' Court today (Monday) heard that Claire was born with spina bifida and needed major spinal surgery while still a baby, meaning she had no feelings or sensations in the lower half of her body. She was confined to a wheelchair.
READ MORE: 'Covid express' video captures packed train and people not wearing masks
She had been cared for at home by her mum throughout her life. Despite her condition, Claire was described as leading as full and as active a life as possible, with her mental capacity only impaired by mild learning difficulties.
In 2016, Claire was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, and was dependent on dialysis.
On her first admission to hospital in 2019, the hospital failed to carry out an appropriate risk assessment.
This meant that a pressure ulcer was missed which developed and spread in the pelvic area over the next 18 months, exacerbated by Claire having no sensation in the lower half of the body. This meant she was effectively anesthetised to any pain which would have alerted her to the condition.
On Claire's second admission to Arrowe Park in February this year, the inquest heard her treatment became complicated by the high numbers of patients being treated for covid, for which Claire had also tested positive.
Unknown to her family - who were prevented from visiting her because of the Covid restrictions then in place - Claire was now suffering from a "deep" pressure ulcer or bed sore in her pelvic area and had deteriorated rapidly, leading to sepsis.
The inquest was attended by Claire's sister Katie, along with her mum Joanne.
Katie told assistant coroner Simon Holder: "Claire was chatty and lovely. She was addicted to her mobile phone.
"If covid hadn't been present, I believe we wouldn't be sitting here today.
"During her second stay in hospital in February, we lost all contact with her. That was major for us. We just panicked then and knew something was wrong."
Kate said they had tried getting through to the ward where Claire was being treated on 23 separate occasions, and only got through eventually when one of the nurses picked up Claire's own phone.
They had a video call and the family were "shocked" to see the state Claire was in.
After she complained of suffering from headaches, Claire was transferred to Walton Neurological Centre.
A Home Office pathologist, who carried out a post mortem on Claire after her death on March 4 this year, gave the cause of death as bronchial pneumonia due to a pelvic abscess, which in turn arose from a severe bed sore or pressure ulcer, which gave rise to sepsis.
Richard Guy, a consultant surgeon at Arrowe Park hospital, said Claire presented a complex set of medical problems, which were exacerbated by covid.
Rosalind Poole, a senior clinician at Arrowe Park, said procedures had been tightened up since her appointment in March 2021 which meant symptoms such as Claire presented would no longer be missed. There had also been an increase in staff.
Assistant coroner Simon Holder said the hospital had failed to provide basic care which might have led to the problem being spotted sooner.
He added: "Nothing was done until the problem had developed. Systems should have been in place to ensure Claire received a skin assessment. Claire would have had the capacity to complain if she had the ability to feel pain."
Mr Holder concluded Claire died of natural causes, contributed to by neglect.
