A mum-of-two underwent “extensive amputation surgery” after a hospital trust did not recognise and commence treatment for sepsis sooner, an official investigation has found.
Sadie Kemp is warning of the dangers of the life-threatening condition after being left with life-changing injuries.
She has had all 10 fingers amputated and has recently had to have both of her legs amputated at ankle level.
The 35-year-old attended A&E at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, near Huntingdon, on Christmas Day night complaining of severe back pain but was sent home five hours later.
Sadie, of Sawtry, near Peterborough, went back to hospital at around 4am on Boxing Day following deterioration at home.
However, there was a three-and-a-half-hour delay in starting a step-by-step guide to treat suspected sepsis, an investigation report by North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust found.
Sadie, who had a kidney stone, was transferred to Peterborough City Hospital. She was critically unwell when she underwent surgery to remove a kidney stone.
She spent two weeks on a life support machine.
However, “due to the sepsis not being recognised and treatment commenced sooner” she had to be stabilised before undergoing surgery, the report found.
It added “the lack of effective treatment” prior to surgery meant Sadie required prolonged critical care treatment which saw drugs to regulate her heart pumped into her body.
These caused her to develop gangrene in her fingers and toes “which has resulted in extensive amputation surgery and subsequent permanent disability.”
Sadie, who spent more than 100 days in hospital, has now instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help her access the specialist lifetime care, support, and therapies she requires.
She has joined her legal team to call for lessons to be learned and raising awareness of the dangers of sepsis which sees the body attack itself in response to an infection.
Expert Opinion from Irwin Mitchell
The last few months and coming to terms with the life-changing consequences of Sadie’s sepsis have been incredibly difficult, not only for her but her family. She still faces an uncertain future and will need follow up surgeries in the coming months.
Understandably Sadie has had a number of concerns about what happened to her with the hospital trust’s investigation report finding extremely worrying issues in her care.
While Sadie’s case vividly highlights the consequences people can be left to face because of sepsis it’s vital people continue to seek medical advice at the earliest opportunity as early detection and treatment are key to beating the condition.
We continue to investigate on Sadie’s behalf to provide her with all the answers she deserves.
We call on the hospital trust to work with us to resolve these concerns as quickly as possible, allowing Sadie to focus on accessing the specialist support and therapies she is likely to require for the rest of her life.”
Amie Minns, medical negligence lawyer said: “During her first visit to hospital doctors initially believed Sadie, who has two sons Kenzie, 17, and Hendrix, two, could have appendicitis.
“However, this was ruled this out. She was given pain relief and sent home to return at 9am the following day for a kidney scan.
“However, Sadie continued to be in severe pain and returned to A&E at 4am. During an assessment at 5.40am a prompt on a check list asking medical staff to think if Sadie could have sepsis was answered ‘yes’, the investigation report said.
“However, sepsis six paperwork – a step by step guide to chart and treat suspected sepsis – which should have been completed was not found in her medical notes, the report added.
“Sadie’s condition continued to deteriorate. Following a further review sepsis 6 treatment was started at 10pm. The report said it should have started at 6.35pm when her condition deteriorated.”
Sadie was transferred to Peterborough City Hospital in the early hours of 27 December.
Following several operations on both her hands throughout May, doctors also warned Sadie that she would need further surgeries on her lower limbs.
On 18 August Sadie had both legs amputated at the ankle at another hospital.
This is the first stage of osseointegration surgery in an attempt to save as much as her legs as possible.
The relatively new surgery is not available on the NHS, so Sadie had to pay for the procedure privately.
Rather than amputating her legs just below the knee, the procedure aims to save more of her leg and sees a prosthesis directly into the body through the bone. If successful it means the prosthesis fuses with the bone becoming part of the body.
The first stage of the private surgery cost Sadie £18,000.
Sadie said: “All I can remember was being in absolute agony because of the pain and the next thing I had woken up in intensive care.
“Even now after all these months, I am still trying to get my head around what happened and why it did.
“From what the doctors have told me in some respects I am lucky that I survived what I did but I am also upset at what happened to me and how it will affect me.
“I cannot thank the critical care staff enough; they did everything to save me, and I will forever be indebted to them.
“However, it is difficult not to try and be angry and emotional by what happened to me before and the issues in my care that have been highlighted.
“The last few months have been a real rollercoaster of emotions. The support I have had from my family and friends has given me real strength to try and face the future.
“While I would not wish what has happened to me on anyone else, and it is vital that lessons are learned, I also need to focus on what lies ahead.
“I want to be there for my kids, look after them and give them the best future I can. Being able to make the best possible recovery and having access to the best support is key to that.”
She added: “My leg surgery has gone well, and the doctors seem happy so far. However, there is a still long way to go with regards to its long-term success.
“Sepsis is an absolutely horrendous condition and more has to be done to raise awareness of how dangerous it is. I just hope that by speaking out I can help others.”
Sadie’s friends have set up a Go Fund Me page to help raise money towards Sadie’s ongoing needs.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-fight-for-limbs-a-mums-battle-for-independence
Signs of sepsis include slurred speech, confusion, extreme shivering, and muscle pain, passing no urine in a day, severe breathlessness and mottled or discoloured skin. Find out more
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