Police probe claims mum died after NHS staff gave her accidental paracetamol overdose

Police have launched a probe into claims a mum died after NHS doctors gave her an accidental paracetamol overdose in hospital. 

Laura Higginson, 30, from Widnes, was being treated for suspected pneumonia when she died at Whiston Hospital in Merseyside in April 2017.

Mrs Higginson's husband Antony claims he only discovered his wife, who had a rare genetic condition called Gitelman syndrome, had been given an overdose months after her death.

A spokeswoman for St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said it accepted Mrs Higginson had been given a paracetamol overdose, but "expressly denied" it had caused or contributed to her death.

On Thursday, an inquest into her death was opened and adjourned to a date to be fixed, Sefton, Knowsley and St Helens coroner's office said.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mr Higginson said he is still "haunted" by the moment their two children, Stephen, then nine, and Evie, then seven, had to say goodbye to their mum.

"One of the hardest things I have ever done or will ever do was wake the children at 11:30pm (and) drive them into a hospital at night to say goodbye to their mum," he said.

"That image of seeing the children on the bed crying and making promises to her... My daughter holding Laura’s hand trying to stroke her own face haunts me.

"I will never recover from seeing the three most precious things in my life in such pain. I only found out about the overdose when I went to see my GP after struggling with my grief."

John Doyle, principal lawyer at Slater and Gordon, who are representing the family, said: "The trust have now, after three years, admitted that administering the paracetamol overdose was negligent, however they continue to deny it caused or contributed to Laura's death.

"Given Laura's incredibly tragic premature death, it is disappointing Mr Higginson and the family has had to wait so long, but it is right that the failings are now recognised by the trust and due process is followed.

"Independent expert evidence we commissioned was provided to the coroner and we welcome her decision to open the inquest."

A spokeswoman for the hospital said: "The trust offers its sincere condolences to the family of the late Mrs Higginson.

"Following her death, an immediate and thorough investigation was carried out.

"The findings of independent clinical experts do not concur with the views of Mr Higginson and will be presented to the coroner during the inquest."

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm that an investigation is currently under way following the death of Laura Higginson at Whiston Hospital on April 19 2017.

"As such it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time."