A jury sitting in Barnet Coroner’s Court has identified a number of omissions at Barnet Hospital that more than minimally contributed to the death of 20-year-old Sophie Ward following her attendance at the hospital with symptoms of meningitis. Sophie attended the accident and emergency department of the hospital complaining of symptoms including a worsening headache, fever, a stiff neck, and sensitivity to light. Her mother had called 111, as she was concerned about meningitis, and was told to attend the hospital, where she again reiterated her concerns about meningitis on a number of occasions.
Sophie was triaged and then later assessed by a doctor, who discharged her the same day, as he considered she had the flu. This was despite the absence of classic flu symptoms, such as sore throat or cough, and the presence of a number of red flag symptoms for meningitis. Sophie deteriorated at home overnight and was rushed back to the hospital early the following morning, where she sadly passed away from septicaemia and meningitis.
Over the five days of the inquest, the jury heard from the nurse who triaged Sophie, the Doctor who assessed and then discharged her, an expert in emergency medicine instructed by the Coroner and an expert in emergency medicine instructed by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Barnet Hospital. Entering a narrative conclusion, the jury found that the decision to discharge, the failure to administer antibiotics, and the standard of record keeping in the Trust all made more than minimal contributions to Sophie’s death.
Darragh represented Sophie’s family in the inquest, and was instructed by Caragh Hargreaves of Gadsby Wicks.
Read more about the inquest in the press here and here.
