Notorious murderer ‘turned blue’ before her death from coronavirus
SHE REFUSED TO ISOLATE IN PRISON
BEVERLEY Road murderer Angela Burkitt “turned blue” and refused treatment before she was killed by Covid-19.
Burkitt, 55, who was jailed for life in 2017 after she killed her neighbour Joanne Hemingway in a “revenge attack,” died in April this year after contracting Covid-19 while serving time at HMP New Hall.
“The Queen of Beverley Road,” as she called herself, refused to shield during lockdown and continued to work as a cleaner on the prison’s complex needs unit, a Prison and Probation Ombudsman report said.
Burkitt already suffered with Hepatitis C and COPD, making her vulnerable to Covid-19.
The report states that in February 2020 Burkitt was examined by a nurse as she had a cough, a high temperature, a fast pulse and breathlessness. She was diagnosed with a chest infection and was prescribed antibiotics.
In March, the prison identified prisoners who were at high risk of developing complications if they contracted Covid-19 and advised them to shield.
Burkitt was encouraged to shield, but refused to move, telling senior officers she wanted to continue working as she thought that would be better for her mental health.
She was encouraged three more times to shield by officers and medical professionals, but she refused each time
The report states that Burkitt’s health began to deteriorate and on April 5 she developed a high temperature, which returned to normal after she had taken paracetamol.
However, on April levels were low, she 8 her began oxygen to feel very unwell and a GP was called.
The GP, the report says, “was able to tell straight away from the doorway that Ms Burkitt was very unwell and although she was alert and talking, she was blue and looked like she was about to arrest.”
Burkitt was rushed to hospital by paramedics, who thought she could have sepsis.
She was taken to the hospital’s Covid area, chained to a prison officer, and was diagnosed with pneumonia and Covid-19.
Restraints were eventually removed and Burkitt was given oxygen therapy before being moved to an intensive care unit where she refused more invasive oxygen therapy and, at times, medication.
She died on April 17.
The report found that although Burkitt refused to shield, she was given the opportunity to do so, but the prison “should have acted sooner” to isolate her when she began to show symptoms of Covid-19.
The report’s author, Sue Mcallister, said: “The clinical reviewer found that overall, the standard of healthcare Ms Burkitt received was equivalent to that which she could have expected to receive in the community.
“We are satisfied that she was given the opportunity to shield during the Covid-19 pandemic, but she refused to do so, despite being advised of the risks to her health.
“We are also satisfied that she was sent to hospital promptly when her condition deteriorated.
“However, we consider the prison should have acted sooner to isolate Ms Burkitt when she displayed symptoms of Covid-19, in order to reduce the risk of her infecting other prisoners and staff.”