'A leap' to suggest sepsis death was preventable

It would be "a leap" to say the son of a senior doctor would have survived if his care in hospital had been different, a former NHS consultant in intensive care has told an inquest.

William Hewes died aged 22 at Homerton University Hospital in January 2023 within 24 hours of being admitted after his meningitis, caused by a meningococcal infection, developed into sepsis. He was said to have been fit and healthy before the infection.

Prof Patrick Nee told Bow Coroner's Court that he thought Mr Hewes probably would not have survived even if his care had been different.

Coroner Mary Hassell said improvements could be made "up and down the country" as a result of the death.

Consultant paediatrician Deborah Burns, Mr Hewes's mother, was a doctor at the east London hospital in which her son died for more than 20 years.

The inquest previously heard extracts from Dr Burns' statement in which she expressed her belief that Mr Hewes was "left unmonitored and untreated in resus for far too long" and that his care "was no better on the ICU (intensive care unit) until it was too late".

Coroner Mary Hassell said that when she gives her conclusion, one element she will "certainly write about" is that "the lessons learned must be shared and must be shared at a national level".

She said: "This isn't the first time that I have heard an inquest where a great deal of the investigation has been driven by the family and I am sure it won't be the last.

"Nothing will bring William back but it seems to me that others may be saved as a result of the work done following his death."

Ms Hassall said Martha Mills' parents sat before her "in a very similar situation" and as a result their campaign, which gives patients and their loved ones the right to a second medical opinion, is being introduced nationally.

She added: "It seems to me that improvements can be made up and down the country as a result of William's death."

The court heard how Mr Hewes - who was studying history and politics at university - arrived at the hospital just after midnight, and was quickly admitted to the hospital's resuscitation area before being taken to the ICU at about 04:00 GMT.

Last month, the inquest heard that medical staff failed to administer antibiotics to Mr Hewes within an hour of his arrival at hospital, as per national guidelines.

Dr Ron Daniels, from the UK Sepsis Trust, previously told the court he believed Mr Hewes would have been likely to survived if he had received prompt care, and said it was "perfectly possible" for non-specialist medical staff to deliver the necessary treatment.

On Wednesday, Prof Nee told the court that some guidelines - including that the patient should have had antibiotics within the hour - had not been met.

He said that interventions in Mr Hewes's condition could have started an hour earlier, but when asked by the coroner if the patient would have had a better chance of survival if his care in hospital was different, Prof Nee said: "Potentially, yes," but added: "It's a leap… to say he would have survived."

When he was asked to clarify, Prof Nee said: "I think he probably would not have survived."

The coroner is due to give her conclusion on 27 March.

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