Berkshire woman died after 'wrong' swine flu diagnosis

The swine flu helpline was launched last year

A woman diagnosed with swine flu over the telephone died from Legionnaires' disease days later, an inquest heard.

Two ambulance crews saw Carol Rowe who was having breathing problems last July but did not to take her to hospital.

It was only when her GP visited her at home in Thatcham, Berkshire, that she was taken to hospital where she later died, the coroner heard.

Recording a narrative verdict, he said the outcome was likely to have been the same even if she was admitted sooner.

The inquest heard Mrs Rowe, 46, was diagnosed with swine flu at the height of the outbreak last July over the telephone by the government's advisory service.

On 27 July, the alarm was raised when she started experiencing breathing difficulties but the first emergency crew deemed she was not ill enough to go to hospital, the coroner heard.

'Family frustrated'

Two days later her doctor's wishes that she be admitted did not get through to a second crew who were treating her at home and it was only when her GP intervened four hours later she was taken to hospital by a third crew but died on 2 August, the hearing heard.

Mr Rowe said the swine flu pandemic masked his wife's situation

The ambulance crews were questioned at the inquest about incomplete paperwork and why they had not been told about Mrs Rowe's long-term health problems.

Recording a narrative verdict, coroner Peter Bedford said it was unclear why Mrs Rowe had become so ill so suddenly and even if she had been taken to hospital sooner the tragic outcome would probably have been the same.

Her husband, Kevin, said the swine flu pandemic masked how serious her situation was.

He said after the inquest: "It is a difficult situation where you have got that pandemic and you've got government processes and procedures handed down which they work to.

"The family are frustrated by that because I presume if it happened today potentially a different process would be in place to deal with my wife and that is the sad thing about this."

Following the hearing, South Central Ambulance Service said it will be reviewing its procedures.

The service added: "We deeply empathise with the Rowe family for their loss.

"While our staff operated within the clinical guidelines during the pandemic, we are very sorry that Mrs Rowe passed away."