Fylde coast woman blames hospital for her contracting coronavirus

Alison Howarth, 47, who works in events, was admitted four times to Blackpool Victoria hospital suffering from the effects of gastroenteritis.

She said that she has an ongoing condition which, when she is sick, can lead to extremely low levels of potassium in her body which can be fatal.

She said that her doctor got her admitted to the Vic on Tuesday, September 8 as following sickness, she was unable to keep any food down and as a result her potassium level in her body had dropped to dangerous levels.

She was put on a drip which got her levels up again and she was discharged at 10pm that night. But the following day she still could not eat or drink and ended up back in hospital.

Again she was discharged only to have to return to hospital on the Friday when she was admitted to ward two where she was alongside two elderly ladies.

She said: "Each time I was admitted they tested me for coronavirus and its was negative. Then on Saturday I got a text to say I was Covid-positive. They left me on the ward for four and a half hours next to two vulnerable women before I was transferred to the coronavirus ward - Ward 3 in the early hours. They were very worried too.

"I spent that night crying. The only information I had was from the Government coronavirus websites. I was very worried because I am a single mum and my teenage daughter is from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community which the news had been saying was really vulnerable to Covid. She also has breathing issues.There really could have been much better communications in the hospital.

"Then to make it worse they discharged me again on Sunday morning to self-isolate at home. The notes on my discharge letter said they were letting me out because my oral intake had improved. But that was not true, I had not eaten anything and was still being sick.

"The ward was full so I don't know if they needed the bed for another patient but I felt confused. I go into hospital to get treatment and all I got was coronavirus.

"I can only think I picked it up either in A&E or the AMU when I was readmitted. I had two negative tests on Tuesday and Wednesday."

She said that luckily her coronavirus symptoms were mild, but her gastroenteritis and low potassium continued into the following week and she was once again admitted to hospital to go on a drip.

Now back at home once more and on an intravenous drip, Alison said: "I am not happy at all about my treatment. I think the hospital should have kept me in and should improve its hygiene procedures. I have been sick for weeks and lost 10kg in weight."

A spokesperson for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are sorry that the patient is unhappy with the care provided.

“We cannot comment on individual cases but we encourage our patients to report any issues to the staff in the area they are receiving treatment in, or to contact our Patient Relations Team, so that we can ensure we are providing the best possible experience for our patients.’’