NHS warned as patient, 76, dies drinking hand sanitiser
Bottle of gel containing six times the drink-drive limit of alcohol was an ‘accident waiting to happen’
THE NHS has been warned over the use of hand sanitiser after a confused patient drank two litres of gel and later died.
John Haughey, 76, would have been almost six times over the drink-drive limit after consuming the contents of the bottle, which had been attached to the bottom of his bed at Hull Royal Infirmary. It contained as much alcohol as a litre of gin.
Mr Haughey drifted in and out of consciousness and died six days later of bronchopneumonia.
Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust has admitted a breach of its duty of care as part of a legal action by the patient’s family, and agreed to pay an undisclosed, five-figure sum in damages.
Following his inquest earlier this year, Hull coroner Prof Paul Marks wrote to the chief executive of NHS England to warn that similar deaths could occur if changes were not introduced.
In his letter he said there was a “tension” between providing gels to prevent infection and the safety of vulnerable or confused patients who might consume them.
Mr Haughey went to hospital in September 2015 because his family was concerned about him becoming unwell, forgetful and increasingly confused.
On the fifth day he drank the gel which contained ethyl alcohol at a concentration of around 75 per cent.
His blood alcohol level was measured at 463mg per 100ml of blood – the legal limit for driving is 80mg – and 10 hours later it was still 354mg.
The patient’s daughter, Diane Atkin, said: “It has been a disgrace from start to finish. We were kept in the dark with very little information by the trust over what had happened to my father, how it had ever been allowed to happen and the failings in treatment after he had swallowed the gel.”
Ms Atkin added that the gel bottles were easily unscrewed and were “an accident waiting to happen”.
Staff now carry their own sanitisers and the trust has brought in lockable dispensers.
NHS England said in a statement: “The NHS takes issues such as these extremely seriously and partner organisations are working together to explore how safety around these products can be improved.”
Ms Atkin said she also felt that her father had received “poor care” afterwards, claiming he was not monitored properly.
The coroner said staff expected Mr Haughey to metabolise the alcohol, and that his airway was unprotected for seven hours.
Ms Atkin said her father had lived independently before going into hospital and, although he was confused, he had not been diagnosed with dementia.
Michelle Tebbutt, of the medical specialists Hudgell Solicitors, said the amount Mr Haughey had drunk meant it was certain to lead to unconsciousness and the need for breathing support. Despite this, no immediate action was taken by medical teams to assist his breathing.
Ms Tebbutt said it was a tragic case, adding: “He (Mr Haughey) was unresponsive for close to seven hours before becoming completely unconscious, by which time his airway was in jeopardy.”
Mike Wright, executive chief nurse for Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We would like to offer our apologies and our sincere condolences to Mr Haughey’s family.”