William Hewes died aged 22 at Homerton Hospital, London in January 2023 within 24 hours of being admitted with sepsis
His mother Deborah Burns, a consultant paediatrician at Homerton who has worked as a doctor there for more than 20 years, said she watched her son receive “inadequate care” before he died
The inquest into William’s death will begin on Thursday 13th February at Poplar Coroners Court, with further evidence due to be heard in March and a verdict delivered thereafter.
Dr Ron Daniels BEM, Founder and Chief Medical Officer of the UK Sepsis Trust, has been instructed as an independent expert witness for the family. Dr Daniels will be available for interview and further commentary around the initial inquest dates and in the following days.
William Hewes, a sporty, 6ft 6in student studying history and politics at university, was said to have been fit and healthy before developing meningitis caused by a meningococcal infection, which subsequently developed into sepsis.
An inquest into William’s death was due to begin in December 2024 but was delayed, and will now take place on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th February this month, with further evidence due to be heard and a verdict delivered in March.
The inquest will look into whether there were any delays in William’s care which affected the outcome of the case, and whether there are any lessons that need to be learned.
In the UK, five people lose their lives to sepsis every hour. It is a life-threatening condition which arises when the body’s response to infection harms its own tissues and organs. It affects 245,000 people in the UK annually, claiming 48,000 lives. Sepsis can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death if not recognised early and treated promptly.
Dr Ron Daniels, Founder and Chief Medical Adviser, The UK Sepsis Trust, said: “Every day at the UK Sepsis Trust we hear stories just like William’s: stories about people who fell through the cracks because healthcare professionals didn’t listen. If William’s mother Deborah, an experienced paediatrician, was unable to make her concerns heard, then what hope can other parents have? The inquest into William’s death is ongoing and will not deliver a verdict until March, but we know already it’s critical that members of the public feel empowered to act as advocates when their loved ones are unwell, and that healthcare professionals take them seriously. By responding effectively and reliably to sepsis, our health service can save lives and improve outcomes for the thousands of people affected by this condition every year.”
