Shirley Bartram faced a dire situation when her fingers and toes turned black and eventually dropped off after being discharged from the hospital with antibiotics. Initially presenting with severe pain in her left side, vomiting, a high heart rate, and inability to urinate for 12 hours, Shirley was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with a suspected kidney infection. She received IV antibiotics, was later released with oral medication, but her health quickly worsened.
Subsequently, Shirley was placed in a medically induced coma for four weeks after returning to the hospital. Upon awakening, she discovered that the tissue in her hands and feet had decayed, leading to the loss of fingers, a thumb, and the tips of her toes. This tragic turn of events drastically impacted her daily life, transforming once simple tasks like writing, dressing, and cooking into significant challenges.
Following her readmission to the hospital, Shirley was diagnosed with sepsis in September 2022, spending four weeks in intensive care and nine weeks in the hospital. Currently, she has limited mobility with only two fingers remaining on her right hand and certain toes self-amputating. Complications in her right hip, resulting from infections, have created further difficulties, including issues with previous hip surgery metalwork.
Expressing emotional distress over the loss of independence and physical capabilities, Shirley emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the dangers of sepsis to prevent similar tragedies. Seeking justice, she has engaged medical negligence lawyers to investigate the care provided during her hospital visits.
In response to the situation, a spokesperson for Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust expressed regret over the complications faced by Shirley and her family, acknowledging deficiencies in certain aspects of care. The Trust is cooperating with legal proceedings to determine accountability while continuing to enhance safety protocols and support initiatives promoting sepsis awareness for improved patient outcomes.