Health Trust payout following death of diabetic
Posted: August 13, 2013
Posted in: Head and Brain Injuries Medical Negligence Wrongful & Accidental Death
After the family of Margaret Pitt (55) were “let down so badly” by health workers at Alexandra Hospital, an undisclosed settlement has been paid out to Mrs. Pitt’s family. The nurses working in Alexandra Hospital – part of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust – failed to monitor Mrs. Pitt’s glucose levels properly, which led to her death in November 2010.
Margaret Pitt, from Redditch, had lived with type 1 diabetes for the last 30 years of her life, yet died due to an irreversible brain injury following the failures of many Alexandra Hospital nurses.
Failure to take blood sugar readings
A coroner ruled in June 2012 that one nurse, Jackie Charman, committed a serious failure in not taking blood sugar readings for Mrs. Pitt. Another nurse, Sarah Morgan, who was described as being a ‘diabetes specialist’, also failed to provide Mrs. Pitt with the medical care she required by not implementing a proper handover after discovering Mrs. Pitt’s worryingly low blood sugar levels. The failure of both of these nurses has been described as “unacceptable” by the deputy coroner Marguerite Elcock.
Mr Pitt said: “Whilst the settlement draws a line under the legal action and we are pleased the trust has admitted wrongdoing, we cannot begin to think about rebuilding our lives until the NMC investigations are complete.”
Lawyers told media that the case has been referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) on behalf of the family.
If you have been affected by medical negligence, and are looking to claim compensation, please contact us.
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