Meningitis Death Follows Three-Hour Wait

(Manchester, England) In this case, it's hard to dispute the contention that NHS patient wait-time likely contributed to the death of a young woman.

A TEENAGE girl dying from meningitis begged and pleaded with nurses to give her antibiotics, an inquest heard.

But Melissa Watmough, 17, had to wait nearly three hours for the drugs after arriving by emergency ambulance to the Manchester Royal Infirmary.

There was then a delay of almost two hours before she was seen by a doctor and then another hour before she was administered the antibiotics she hoped would save her life.

Melissa's mum Joanne told the inquest: "I might as well have let her stay at home and die quietly. In our view the hospital did not treat her quickly enough.

"We believe that if she would have received the appropriate antibiotic treatment earlier in the process she would still be here today. Meningitis is a deadly disease. All the guidance suggests that time is of the essence.

"Melissa was becoming very scared and concerned about her health and begged the nurse to give her antibiotics."

The coroner ruled the death was from natural causes. Melissa's family is considering legal action.