A "bright, funny, deeply loving" teenager tragically passed away only seven days after she was admitted to hospital with what was initially thought to be food poisoning. Student Lois Francis, aged 17, died at the Royal Stoke University Hospital from a condition caused by Shiga toxin-producing E-coli.
Inquest Reveals Rare Medical Condition
An inquest heard that bacteria led Lois to develop haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), an incredibly rare condition affecting the kidneys. HUS occurs in just two out of every 100,000 people per year in Europe and the United States, making it an extremely uncommon medical event.
Family's Heartfelt Tribute
In a moving tribute read out by Lois's family at the start of the inquest, they described her as a compassionate and creative individual. "Lois was a bright, funny, deeply loving child who filled every room she entered with warmth and laughter," the statement said. "She cared deeply for those in need. Her compassion wasn't just something she spoke about, it was something she lived."
The family continued, highlighting her artistic talents and loving nature. "She had a deeply creative spirit, she loved to write and would create entire worlds of her own. Acting gave her a way to express her personality and she brought confidence and passion to every performance. She was someone who wanted to make the world better through her art."
Timeline of Medical Events
Lois, who lived in Talke Pits near Stoke-on-Trent and was studying acting at Newcastle-under-Lyme College, was initially admitted to Leighton Hospital in Crewe on September 23, 2023. She presented with bloody diarrhoea at home, but had a normal temperature. Blood tests revealed evidence of inflammation, and she was given IV fluids for rehydration, anti-sickness medication, and a course of antibiotics.
However, by September 26, her kidney function had deteriorated. Tests confirmed she had Shiga toxin-producing E-coli, at which point antibiotics were stopped. She was moved to the hospital's critical care unit before being transferred to the renal department at Royal Stoke University Hospital the following day, September 27, when a bed became available.
Medical Complications and Communication Issues
Dr Christopher Thompson, a critical care and renal consultant at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, explained that antibiotics were restarted due to miscommunication. "The reason the team carried on with antibiotics was purely miscommunication," he stated.
On September 28, Lois became significantly more unwell, developing neurological symptoms, struggling to communicate, and having problems with her vision. After haemodialysis to clean her blood and a CT scan, her condition continued to deteriorate. A referral was made to critical care, but she was not transferred for several hours.
Dr Thompson noted, "I think the critical care resident doctor did not recognise how sick Lois was at that point. The plan was to keep an eye on Lois on Ward 124, and it wasn't until the early hours of September 29, when she deteriorated further, that she was referred to critical care."
Final Deterioration and Death
A second CT scan showed severe brain swelling, with damage that was not reversible. Despite treatment attempts, Lois passed away on September 29. Dr Thompson added, "I don't think it necessarily had a material effect on how she progressed. The brain injury she had had already begun. However, I think she could have had further observation management and treatment of seizure activity would have been done with one to one or one to two nursing, rather than one nurse looking after eight patients. I think the process was not as good as it should have been."
Family's Perspective and Medical Insights
Lois's mother, Sarah Francis, told the inquest that the care at Leighton Hospital had been 'incredible', but expressed her disbelief. "What I can't comprehend is a girl with no underlying health conditions, becomes mildly unwell with a tummy upset, can seven days later not be here," she said.
Dr Stephen Lord, an intensive care consultant at UHNM, commented on the rarity and speed of the condition. "It was the speed of deterioration and progression of her disease that caused her death. HUS is incredibly rare, and in the handful of cases I have ever seen from medical records, Lois's is the fastest. I can fully understand how hard it is to comprehend what happened here, given she was a young fit girl and this happened in such a short time."
The inquest continues as authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding this tragic loss.
