Grandmother from Leighton Buzzard who died from sepsis 'was let down by the NHS', says daughter

ITV News

a day ago

Stacey and Terrence Edwards told ITV News Anglia's Sophie Wiggins they want to make sure no other family goes through what they have
A grandmother who died from sepsis 48 hours after seeking help for her symptoms was let down by the NHS, her daughter has told ITV News Anglia.
Suzanne Edwards, 71, died at Bedford Hospital on 1 December 2024, less than 24 hours after having emergency surgery to treat sepsis caused by a kidney stone blocking her urinary tract.
An inquest at Milton Keynes Coroners' Court found the grandmother, from Leighton Buzzard in Bedfordshire, died from septic shock because medical professionals missed several opportunities to identify the obstruction and treat an infection before sepsis developed.
Coroner Tom Osborne issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report, raising concerns about failures in communication between GP and hospital services in Bedfordshire which he said "could result in further unnecessary deaths and something should be done about it."
Mrs Edwards' daughter, Stacey Edwards, told ITV News Anglia: "I still to this day don't think I believe it, and I feel we're talking about somebody else.
"She was let down. All she needed was a scan and it just wasn't given."
On Friday 29 November, Mrs Edwards went to her GP with abdominal pain and vomiting. Her GP arranged blood and urine tests and considered the possibility she might have had a kidney stone, but did not make a same-day referral or hospital review even though her results were not expected back until after the weekend.
Later the same day, Mrs Edwards went to A&E at Milton Keynes University Hospital because her symptoms had worsened.
She was diagnosed with gastroenteritis and discharged, despite her blood and urine results showing systemic inflammation and dehydration.
That night and the following day Mrs Edwards' condition deteriorated, prompting her family to call NHS 111 which directed her to an urgent care centre.
Mrs Edwards was then transferred to Bedford Hospital, where clinicians found sepsis and a 7mm stone in her urinary tract.
She underwent emergency surgery to insert a stent to relieve the blockage the stone was causing, but she died later that evening from septic shock.
Coroner Mr Osborne raised serious concerns about the fact that emergency departments could not access GP records, stating that Mrs Edwards may have received different treatment if clinicians had been able to see her GP's notes about a suspected kidney stone.
Mrs Edwards' husband Terrence said the phone call telling him to return to Bedford Hospital immediately to be with his wife was "something you'll never forget".
"In this world of computers, it just seems absolutely ridiculous that the hospital at Milton Keynes couldn't see the GP's notes," he told ITV News Anglia. "If they had, she might possibly be sitting here today."
A spokesperson for Milton Keynes University Hospital said Mrs Edwards' vital signs were stable and she was slightly dehydrated when she attended A&E.
They added: "She was treated for suspected gastroenteritis and discharged with clear advice to return to the [emergency department] if her symptoms worsened, or she developed pain or fever.
"We were very sorry to learn of Mrs Edwards' subsequent death at Bedford Hospital and offer our sincere condolences to her family and loved ones."