Mum of six, 33, sent home by hospital dies after doc failed to spot sepsis
Natalie Billingham was taken to A&E by husband Stuart with excruciating foot pains and flu-like symptoms but was just sent home with a walking stick
A MUM of six sent home from one hospital on a walking stick died two days later when doctors finally diagnosed sepsis.
Natalie Billingham, 33, had excruciating pain in her foot and flu-like symptoms but was discharged from Sandwell A&E, West Mids.
She went to Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, the next day but it was still another day before docs spotted the infection.
Surgeons amputated her foot, her lower leg and finally, the whole leg to stop the sepsis spreading.
But it was too late and, hours later, Natalie, whose kids are aged ten months to eight, was dead.
Husband Stuart, 37, a welder, from Tipton, said medics at both hospitals failed to examine her properly.
He said: "They realised they had to amputate her leg,first the foot,then the knee and finally the whole leg to stop the sepsis spreading.
"But it was too late because the sepsis was spreading too rapidly.
"Myself, Natalie’s parents and our six children have been massively let down by the hospital and we want answers as to why Natalie was allowed to die.”
The trust which runs the Dudley hospital said a doctor was suspended.
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Julian Hobbs, Medical Director, The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust said: "This case is subject to a full and thorough investigation which I am personally leading.
"I have met with Stuart and will meet with him again once the investigation has concluded to share the findings with him.
"This is a very rare form of sepsis and difficult to diagnose, and we would typically only see three or four cases a year in the hospital."