The NHS ombudsman has severely criticised North Middlesex Hospital in London after staff mistook a young woman's diabetic complications for a hangover, leading to her avoidable death. Phillippa Odlin, a 26-year-old media studies graduate, died hours after being discharged from A&E with undiagnosed diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition that causes the body to produce poisonous chemicals.
According to a scathing report by ombudsman Dame Julie Mellor, Odlin's death in February 2014 was 'avoidable' because she would have survived if her illness had been detected. However, the hospital failed to carry out a blood test, despite her father informing staff that she was diabetic. A nurse's initial attempt to take blood was abandoned due to Odlin's small veins, and no further tests were conducted.
Odlin's father, Jerry, recounted that an A&E doctor said, 'I think that she's just got a hangover and needs to go home and sleep it off.' He accepted this explanation, trusting the medical team, but later realised he should have asked more questions. Odlin had been drinking heavily the night before, but her symptoms—including chest pains—indicated a serious underlying condition.
DKA occurs when a lack of insulin prevents the body from using glucose for energy, leading it to break down other tissues and produce ketones, which are toxic acids. Without prompt treatment with fluids, insulin and glucose, the condition can be fatal. The ombudsman concluded that Odlin's death would have been avoided if she had been properly assessed and admitted for life-saving treatment.
The case is part of a broader dossier released by Dame Julie Mellor, highlighting 100 instances of serious NHS blunders that harmed patients and were not properly investigated. Odlin's parents agreed to share their story as a warning to A&E staff about the risks of DKA. The hospital has apologised and stated it is determined to improve standards, ensuring staff are aware of the dangers when diabetic patients have consumed alcohol.
