Flu victim, 18, died after parents ‘put off ’ by A&E warnings
Twin’s mother tells of regret after they delayed sending daughter to hospital
A TEENAGE student with flu died after NHS warnings put her parents off taking her to A&E at Christmas.
Melissa Whiteley was eventually admitted to hospital after failing to shake off a cough and suffering from flu-like symptoms, but she deteriorated rapidly and was placed in an induced coma.
The 18-year-old, from Stoke-on-trent, Staffs, was suffering from sepsis, the flu, pneumonia and a fungal infection in her throat.
She died at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, on Jan 27 and her parents and twin sister Megan have warned others to not delay going to hospital if they have flu-like symptoms, regardless of the Miss Whiteley’s hospital admission there were warnings that the NHS faced its “toughest winter ever” with waiting lists “growing at an alarming rate”.
The Royal College of Surgeons suggested that doctors should be posted at hospital doors to turn nonurgent patients away from A&E while a report by NHS Providers said the service was close to bursting point amid fears of a fast-approaching flu epidemic.
However, the Whiteleys expressed regret that they heeded what they believed to be the NHS message.
Mrs Whiteley added: “It’s so frustrating that we delayed taking her in because of that. With conditions like sepsis, you need treatment as quickly as possible.”
Melissa had returned home, after her last day of work before Christmas, complaining of the flu and lacking energy. Her parents decided she was not unwell enough to warrant going to hospital, but she deteriorated and they eventually took her to the Royal Stoke University Hospital on Christmas Day.
She appeared to be recovering after being given oxygen for a few days, but her family received a call on Dec 29 saying that she needed to be transferred to a specialist unit at Glenfield Hospital, where she eventually died.
The NHS insisted that it would never discourage anyone from attending A&E.
A spokesman said: “While the NHS is offering extra options for quick and convenient advice...the NHS is not – and would never – ask people who need to do so not to go to A&E. Our public information is about helping people know about the full range of services available, from GP practices to NHS 111, which are often able to provide advice and treatment more quickly than A&E departments.”