In a heartbreaking turn of events, Jessica Bonner, a 51-year-old mother of two, passed away from sepsis three days after undergoing a hysterectomy at Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.

The tragedy unfolded when Jessica’s surgery involved equipment that was not approved by the NHS, leading to severe complications and ultimately, her death.

A Series of Medical Errors

Jessica was admitted to the hospital in October last year for treatment of pelvic pain and fibroids.

She underwent a hysterectomy and an oophorectomy, a procedure to remove her womb and ovaries.

Unfortunately, following the surgery, she developed a fever and an elevated heart rate.

A CT scan later revealed a suspected bowel perforation that required emergency surgery.

Despite this, Jessica’s condition worsened, and she passed away on October 8.

A post-mortem examination concluded that sepsis, resulting from the bowel perforation during the hysterectomy, was the cause of her death.

The inquest at Birmingham & Solihull Coroner’s Court found that Jessica’s condition might have been survivable if her symptoms had been addressed more promptly.

Family’s Heartbreak and Call for Action

Jessica’s family, including her partner Jason Large and sons Corey Wilson and Shakil Stevens, have been left devastated.

Corey expressed their profound grief, saying, “It’s almost impossible to find the words to describe the hurt we feel over mum’s death.

When she went into hospital for surgery, we never thought she wouldn’t return home.

Seeing her in those final days was terrible, and we were so powerless to help.”

They have sought the help of medical negligence lawyers to investigate her care under the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.

The Trust has admitted that there were missed opportunities to detect the sepsis, and a Patient Safety Incident Investigation Report revealed that unapproved surgical equipment was used during Jessica’s surgery, and communication among staff was inadequate.

Recommendations and Future Steps

Following Jessica’s death, the NHS Trust has implemented several recommendations to prevent similar incidents.

These include reviewing theatre procedures to replace outdated equipment and increasing the frequency of abnormal observations.

Joe Matchett, the specialist medical negligence lawyer representing Jessica’s family, emphasized the tragedy of the case, stating, “This is a truly tragic case which has left Jessica’s family heartbroken.

Sadly, the inquest revealed worrying evidence not only about the care Jessica received but also about communication between medical staff and the use of unapproved surgical equipment.”

Understanding Sepsis: A Critical Alert

Sepsis, often called the ‘silent killer,’ occurs when an infection triggers a severe immune response that damages the body’s organs.

It affects around 245,000 people in the UK each year, leading to approximately 52,000 deaths.

Early detection and treatment are crucial, as every hour of delay increases the risk of death by 8 percent.

The symptoms of sepsis—such as a high fever, rapid heartbeat, and breathing—can often be mistaken for less severe conditions.

Rapid diagnosis and treatment are essential, yet sepsis is frequently misdiagnosed.

It’s particularly dangerous for older adults, pregnant women, young children, and those with chronic health conditions or weakened immune systems.

The acronym ‘SEPSIS’ helps identify the severe signs: Slurred speech or confusion, Extreme shivering or muscle pain, Passing no urine in a day, Severe breathlessness, and Skin that’s mottled or discolored.

Anyone showing these symptoms should urgently seek medical help and inquire whether sepsis could be the cause.

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