Mother's Tragic Death After Hospital Prescribed Wrong Antibiotics
A coroner has ruled that a young mother's death from sepsis was contributed to by NHS neglect after she was given incorrect antibiotics following a routine medical procedure. Aleisha Rochester, a 33-year-old bank cashier from Croydon in south London, passed away just two weeks after undergoing surgery to remove an abscess from her left armpit.
Systematic Failures in Care
Assistant coroner Sian Reeves determined that staff at St Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals failed to follow the NHS trust's own guidelines for administering antibiotics. During an inquest held in December, Ms Reeves concluded that Ms Rochester would most likely have survived if she had received the appropriate antibiotics in a timely manner.
The coroner explicitly stated that Ms Rochester's death was contributed to by neglect, highlighting serious deficiencies in her medical care. The trust has since issued a formal apology to the grieving family.
Timeline of Medical Errors
Ms Rochester suffered from hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic skin condition that causes painful abscesses. On August 5, 2023, she underwent a routine day procedure at St Thomas' Hospital to remove abscesses from her left armpit and groin area.
Her condition deteriorated rapidly in the following days:
- August 13: She visited an out-of-hours GP who prescribed penicillin-based antibiotics
- Same day: She attended Croydon University Hospital A&E where doctors diagnosed a wound infection but discharged her with instructions to continue antibiotics
- August 14: She returned to St Helier Hospital A&E where she received intravenous flucloxacillin before being sent home
The critical failure occurred on August 15 when Ms Rochester returned to hospital and was seen by multiple medical staff. The antibiotics prescribed at this point did not align with the hospital's antimicrobial guidelines and were ineffective against the specific bacteria causing her infection.
Rapid Deterioration and Fatal Outcome
Despite receiving appropriate antibiotics on August 16, Ms Rochester's condition had already progressed too far. She was admitted to intensive care on August 17 while suffering from septic shock with multiple organ failure and signs of lung infection.
Despite maximum antibiotic treatment, intubation, ventilation, and intensive medical support, her condition continued to worsen. She suffered a cardiac arrest in the early hours of August 19 and could not be resuscitated.
Family's Heartbreaking Loss
Ms Rochester leaves behind her eight-year-old son Xavier. Her mother Lorna has initiated legal proceedings against the NHS trust, describing her daughter as "the most loving, caring and compassionate daughter you could wish for."
"Aleisha was strong, independent and ambitious, with a vibrant personality and had ambitions of starting her own business," her mother said. "She was an amazing mummy with motherhood coming to her naturally. The bond between Aleisha and Xavier was evident in every moment they spent together."
The family expressed hope that by speaking out, they might help improve care for others and raise awareness about the importance of correctly identifying and treating sepsis.
Legal and Institutional Responses
Madeline Nugent, the medical negligence lawyer representing the family at Irwin Mitchell, stated: "This is a truly tragic case which has left Aleisha's loved ones devastated. The neglect finding means the coroner was satisfied that there was a gross failure to provide Aleisha with basic medical care."
Dr Richard Jennings, group chief medical officer for St George's, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals, acknowledged the failures: "We know we failed Ms Rochester by not giving her the correct antibiotics, with tragic consequences – for this we are extremely sorry and offer our deepest apologies and condolences to her family."
The trust has implemented several corrective measures including additional staff training on sepsis recognition, improved antibiotic prescribing protocols, and regular audits to ensure guidelines are being followed consistently.
