Teen’s flu death after ‘family obeyed NHS rules’
THE family of a teenage student say she died of flu after they followed NHS warnings not to go to A&E unless it is an emergency.
Twin Melissa Whiteley, 18, was unable to shake off a cough, had no energy and became unable to wash herself. Her family finally took her to hospital on Christmas Day, where she was put in a coma.
The engineering student, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, had sepsis, flu, pneumonia and a fungal throat infection. She died on January 27.
Mum, Sharon, 53, said: “We read all the warnings about not coming to hospital if you have a cold or flu.
“It’s frustrating that we delayed taking her in because of that.” Melissa’s twin, Megan, said: “I feel completely lost without her.”
An NHS spokesman said: “The NHS would never ask people who need to do so not to go to A&E.”