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Family of Shepway dad Andrew Wilson criticise hospital care he received before death

The family of a much-loved father-of-two has criticised a hospital trust for the care he received in the days before his death.

Andrew Wilson, of Huntington Walk, Shepway, needed daily dialysis, but after being admitted to Maidstone Hospital suffering from sepsis, he went for three days without the life-saving treatment. He died 11 days later at Kent & Canterbury Hospital aged just 51.

Mr Wilson, who suffered from chronic kidney disease and cardio-renal failure, received nightly peritoneal dialysis at home which was outsourced by K&C’s renal unit to privately run Baxter.

Andrew Wilson (centre)
Andrew Wilson (centre)

The company’s specially trained staff are not allowed to administer treatment at hospitals and there were no NHS staff available to provide it. Dialysis was given when he was transferred.

While an inquest heard the lack of dialysis did not cause Mr Wilson’s death, assistant coroner Alan Blunsdon last week issued a Regulation 28 report demanding action from East Kent Hospitals Trust to ensure the shocking situation doesn’t happen again.

Now the former mechanic’s son Nathan has spoken out about the standard of care his father received in July, 2015.

The 20-year-old said: “While they said not having dialysis didn’t play a part in dad’s death we don’t understand how anyone can go for three days without the treatment. This should never have happened.

A dialysis unit. Stock image
A dialysis unit. Stock image

“The assistant coroner was very good but his hands were tied by the medical information given to him but we think another doctor may have had a different opinion.

“The hospital knew when he arrived he couldn’t have dialysis. He should have been transferred there and then but it was not deemed a medical emergency as his blood tests were okay.”

Mr Wilson, who grew up in East Farleigh and worked with his brother Nicholas at West Farleigh’s NW Autos, was described by Nathan as a humorous man who was always doing the best for him and brother Daniel, even when he was ill.

The motorbike and darts enthusiast was extremely close to his brother Nicholas, who died from cancer just weeks before his death.

"While they said not having dialysis didn’t play a part in dad’s death we don’t understand how anyone can go for three days without the treatment. This should never have happened" - Nathan Wilson

Responding to the Regulation 28 report a spokesman for EKHT said peritoneal dialysis is only appropriate for patients at home as the risk of infection at hospital is too high.

She added: “Alternative treatments are offered for patients staying in hospital on established peritoneal dialysis should their kidney function deteriorate; however this was never required by Mr Wilson. There was never any omission in his care.

“The low numbers of patients on peritoneal dialysis in Kent mean there are a limited number of staff who can maintain their clinical training.”

Mr Blunsdon said during the inquest that the absence of any arrangements to provide dialysis at hospitals other than the renal unit at Canterbury is a serious ongoing concern.

He added there was an absence of knowledge with clinicians at Maidstone Hospital to arrange the dialysis or transport the equipment from the patient’s home to the hospital.

Nathan Wilson said he had taken his father’s equipment to the Hermitage Lane hospital but was told there was no one available to provide the treatment.

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