A father described as “devoted” passed away merely five hours after emergency responders failed to recognize critical signs of sepsis and neglected to transport him to the hospital promptly. Steve Holbrook-Sishton, a former teacher and college tutor, started exhibiting symptoms of the life-threatening condition in October 2021 following his contraction of Covid-19 shortly after receiving his booster shot.
As his health deteriorated, his wife Jan Holbrook, aged 70, contacted the NHS 111 helpline due to escalating concerns about her husband’s sepsis indicators. Despite clear symptoms, an ambulance team arrived over three hours later, spent an hour examining Steve, but failed to identify the disease.
After Steve’s condition drastically worsened a few hours later, Jan called 999 again and was assured an ambulance within 20 minutes, though it arrived over two hours late. Tragically, by the time the second ambulance reached their Storrington, West Sussex residence, the 67-year-old father of three had already passed away.
Jan expressed her anguish, stating, “I sensed something was amiss, but after the initial ambulance crew departed, I felt Steve hadn’t been thoroughly assessed, and we were left without guidance. Upon the arrival of the second crew, I had to convey, ‘You’re too late, he’s already gone.'”
Reflecting on the loss, she described Steve as a loving husband, an exceptional father, and a remarkably kind individual who held their family together. Witnessing his decline, feeling helpless, was the most agonizing experience of her life. The grief of losing Steve remains as intense now, nearly four years later, as it was on the day he passed.
The challenges lie in accepting that his life might have been saved if he had received the necessary and deserved care. Steve’s health complications began on October 16, 2021, following his third Covid vaccine, leading to a high fever and breathing difficulties. Subsequently, on October 26, he tested positive for Covid, experiencing confusion and reduced urine output.
Despite ongoing deterioration, Jan contacted the NHS helpline on October 30 at 10:40 pm, anticipating an ambulance. However, after waiting until the early hours of the morning, she dialed 999 to inquire about the delay. Emergency responders arrived at 2:10 am, conducted an assessment but failed to recognize sepsis before departing an hour later. Following a further deterioration in Steve’s breathing at 5:30 am, Jan made another distress call.
Upon the arrival of a second ambulance team at 7:40 am, Steve had already passed away. Survived by his three children Maddy, 39, Alex, 37, and Marcus, 30, Jan sought legal counsel from Irwin Mitchell concerning the circumstances of Steve’s care. The South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust admitted negligence in Steve’s untimely demise.
Acknowledging that prompt hospitalization and care could have saved Steve, the Chief Executive of the Ambulance Trust expressed regret for the mismanagement of Steve’s care in a letter to Jan. Efforts are now underway to reach a settlement with Steve’s family. Laura Hayes-Payne, the medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, emphasized the importance of recognizing sepsis promptly to prevent such tragic outcomes.
The Trust’s admission and apology are welcomed, and efforts are focused on learning from Steve’s case to prevent similar tragedies. Sepsis is a medical emergency, and early detection is crucial for saving lives. Recognizable signs include slurred speech, confusion, extreme shivering, muscle pain, absence of urine output, severe breathlessness, and mottled or discolored skin.