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A Hertfordshire grandmother narrowly escaped death after a junior doctor at Watford General Hospital administered a massive overdose of adrenaline, ten times the recommended amount, while treating her allergic reaction. Rachael Emes, 47, was admitted to the hospital after reacting to prescribed antibiotics. Just five minutes after receiving an initial adrenaline injection, she was mistakenly given a potentially lethal intravenous (IV) dose by a doctor who, according to a serious incident report by West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, "panicked" when the first injection didn't have the desired effect, Daily Dazzling Dawn understand.
The consequences for Ms. Emes have been devastating. She suffered a heart attack and seizures as a direct result of the overdose and required intensive care. Even now, over four years after the March 2021 incident, she continues to endure ongoing chest pain and significant psychological trauma.
"It is absolutely horrific that something so simple could go so wrong," Ms. Emes, a mother-of-two and grandmother to 10-month-old Nelly, said. "The doctor shouldn't have administered the adrenaline by IV, he wasn't qualified to do that, and it has caused my life to be turned upside down."
Ms. Emes, who runs her own cleaning business in Hemel Hempstead, now struggles with debilitating fatigue, making it difficult to work. The emotional scars run deep, with nightmares and panic attacks triggered by the lingering chest pains. "Psychologically, it has been terrible. I have had nightmares about what happened and have woken up screaming, knowing I could have died," she recounted. "When I feel the pains in my chest, which I still have as a result of what happened, I start to panic in case I am having another heart attack."
The incident has not only impacted Ms. Emes but also her family. "My husband was also traumatised by what happened and he tries to support me as best he can, but it’s really hard," she explained.
West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust has issued a formal apology for the "shortcomings in care." A spokesperson stated, "We are very sorry for the shortcomings in care provided to Mrs Emes and we have sincerely apologised. We carried out a detailed investigation to learn lessons from this incident and implemented a series of actions as a result. This included sharing the latest anaphylaxis guidelines with all clinicians. The incident has also been highlighted in departmental teaching sessions and governance meetings."
Despite the apology and the trust's claims of implemented changes, Ms. Emes feels let down by the lack of support she has received and has had to fund her own counselling. She has lost all trust in the hospital that nearly cost her life and is now pursuing legal action against the trust for compensation.
Her solicitor, Katie Payne from Slater and Gordon, emphasized the gravity of the situation: "Rachael is forced to live with lifelong consequences as a result of this shocking incident, in which a doctor who was not qualified to administer adrenaline gave her ten times the recommended dose. This could so easily have been a fatal incident we were dealing with. Rachael is haunted by what happened and how close she came to losing her life as a result of putting her trust in medics. Lessons need to be learned urgently at this hospital, and processes put in place to enforce this, to ensure that a wholly avoidable incident of this kind does not happen again."
This case highlights serious concerns about medical errors and the importance of adherence to protocols and proper training within the NHS. Ms. Emes's experience serves as a stark reminder of the potentially life-altering consequences when medical procedures go wrong.
