Girl dies after routine surgery - doctors failed to treat her infected wound

14/12/2005

I would like to thank you and your colleagues for the kindness shown to myself and my wife. I class myself as very fortunate to have met such kind and caring people.

Raymond, Hertfordshire

Rachael Pennington died after ileostomy reversal surgery at Booth Hall Children's Hospital in Manchester in December 2002. She was just thirteen.

The Inquest into her death finished today. The coroner returned a narrative verdict.

"This has been a very traumatic time for Rachael's family. The narrative verdict returned today goes some way to explain what happened to Rachael and the unnecessary suffering which led to her death." said her lawyer Sue Taylor.

Rachel was having abdominal surgery to aid her Crohn's disease.

Following surgery on 14 November 2002 Rachael was in severe pain. Her wound became infected,she had a high temperature and was experiencing pain when passing urine

However doctors failed to take action and instead decided to monitor her condition. Rachael died three weeks later.

Rachael developed a faecal leak, and the wound deteriorated to such an extent that it couldn't be treated with antibiotics

Rachael developed septicaemia leading to multi organ failure.

The hospital admitted a breach of duty.

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