A coroner has urged Health Secretary Wes Streeting to grant pharmacists greater prescribing powers following the death of two-year-old Eva Hodgkinson from sepsis. Despite being advised to start antibiotics, Eva’s treatment was delayed due to prescription issues and pharmacy shortages. The coroner reported that the lack of urgency in her care contributed to her death and warned of potential future risks without policy changes. Following the inquest, he emphasized that pharmacists should be able to prescribe alternative medications during shortages. The Department of Health is considering this request and is committed to preventing similar tragedies in the future.
A coroner has written to the Health Secretary calling for pharmacists to have greater prescribing powers after a two-year-old girl died from sepsis.
Eva Hodgkinson died from a fatal infection a day after her GP said antibiotic treatment was “not considered an emergency”.
The toddler’s father, Adam, said he took her to the GP on December 13, 2022, and the doctor asked a specialist nurse to issue a prescription at 1pm, which was not done for over an hour. said the coroner’s report.
One pharmacy ran out of a requested dose of amoxicillin after a spike in group A streptococcus (Strep A) cases.
Staff contacted Beacon Primary Care Surgery in Ormskirk, Lancashire, and asked the doctor to prescribe a replacement prescription, which was not issued until the following morning.
On Wednesday, after completing a coronial inquest into Eva’s death, Coroner Chris Long wrote to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, warning pharmacists to give medicines in “another sect” if there is a shortage. He said he would ask for permission.
He said there was a “risk” of future deaths unless such changes were made. Under current rules, pharmacists can only prescribe alternative medicines if the Department of Health issues a severe shortage protocol notice.
After jurors at an inquest in Preston found Eva’s cause of death was natural causes, Mr Long called on the government to allow pharmacists to prescribe medicines for “interfaith” people. requested to provide details of the changes to the law.
Eva Hodgkinson was just 2 years old when she died from group A streptococcus sepsis in February.
The toddler, from Banks, near Southport, collapsed in hospital and tragically died from “overwhelming sepsis” “probably” caused by a strep A infection.
A coroner has written to the Health Secretary asking pharmacists to have more prescribing powers after a two-year-old girl died from sepsis.
He said he would write a report to Mr Streeting on preventing future deaths, adding: “At this stage there is a risk[of future deaths]because pharmacists may be able to issue different types and quantities of drugs. The body,” he added.
Mr Long said “risks remain” “unless” we understand “how” the changes, which would allow pharmacists to issue alternative medicines in the event of a shortage, “will be implemented”.
The inquest heard Eva started her first dose of antibiotics at 9.30am on December 14, more than 20 hours after they were recommended.
But hours later, her mother Jade rushed her to Ormskirk District General Hospital during her lunch break, where Eva collapsed and died.
GP partner Dr Rosalind Bonsall said there was “no sense of urgency” to start Ava on antibiotics, despite strep A infections being prevalent at the time. said.
But the GP added: “I can understand why it became an emergency the next morning.”
The coroner heard it was “very common” for types of medicines to be out of stock.
This comes after the ‘Mails End Sepsis Scandal’ campaign launched in 2016, which raised concerns about diagnosis and care, including that potential sepsis should be treated by a senior doctor within an hour. NHS quality standards published.
Ormskirk District General Hospital in Lancashire, where Eva tragically died in 2022
At the hospital, patients must be tested, given antibiotics and placed on an IV within 60 minutes of arrival.
Some of the changes introduced at Beacon Primary Care since Eva’s death include staff being regularly notified of unavailable medications and pediatric antibiotic prescriptions being completed on the same day. can be mentioned.
“We don’t want something like this to happen again,” Dr. Bonsall added. Dr Sharyn Gardner told the hearing that when Eva arrived at A&E it was “immediately obvious” that she was in cardiac arrest and that strep A infection could be the cause of her sepsis. said that it was high.
Coroner Chris Long asked whether it would have made a difference if Ava had started antibiotics on December 13, to which he replied: “It is likely that she could have lived much longer.” Ta.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We would like to offer our deepest condolences to Eva’s family and loved ones on this tragic incident.”
“We are committed to learning lessons to prevent such tragedies in the future and will carefully consider the recommendations of the coroner’s report.”
DHSC said it is currently considering allowing pharmacists to substitute different doses or formulations in certain circumstances “where such substitution may be urgent and safe”.