Father angry over medics’ decision to cancel vital operation

Perth woman almost died from sepsis after surgery called off due to previous patient’s treatment overrunning

A Perth father has blasted health bosses after his daughter had an urgent operation cancelled and almost died from sepsis.

Michael Holmes’ daughter Ashleigh Young, 37, developed the deadly condition through an infection in her stomach.

However, medics at Ninewells Hospital cancelled surgery to remove a stent, saying there was not enough time due to a previous patient’s treatment over-running.

Just six days later the mother-of-two was on life-support as her condition deteriorated to the point where she was close to death, with her organs beginning to shut down.

Ashleigh, who is now staying with her father in Perth, has a long period of recovery ahead.

Michael has made an official complaint on her behalf, demanding to be given answers as to how his daughter ended up at death’s door.

The 56-year-old said: “I lost my son and wife – they both died within four weeks of each other – Ashleigh is all I have left.

“When she was lying there on life support, if she had died, they would have been burying me the next day too. I couldn’t live without her.”

Michael’s son, Michael junior, died when he was 30.

His wife died just four weeks later. Speaking of nearly losing Ashleigh, he said: “I’ve contacted solicitors about this – it was medical negligence as far as I’m concerned.

“Ashley has mental health issues, so this is the last thing she needs.

“Her mental health officers went to see her after she was turned away from Ninewells because the previous patient’s time in theatre took longer than planned. That was on February 1 – on February 7 she was being operated on.”

Ashleigh said she found her ordeal hard to remember as she was unconscious.

She said: “I had jaundice so my friends took me to my GP. He had me rushed to Ninewells by ambulance. They say I could have died if I wasn’t operated on when I was.”

Michael said: “This has been so stressful, it’s made me ill. I just want answers.”

A spokeswoman for NHS Tayside said it would not comment on individual cases but the board always tries to avoid delays.

She added: “Delays to planned surgical procedures happen for a variety of reasons and any decision to defer a procedure is always taken as a last resort.”

I’ve contacted solicitors about this – it was medical negligence as far as I’m concerned

Michael Holmes has lodged a complaint on behalf of his daughter Ashleigh, after she ended up on life support at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.