A jury has concluded that a 17-year-old student died from multiple organ failure as a result of a rare condition caused by bacteria.

Lois Francis, described as compassionate and creative by her family, passed away at Royal Stoke University Hospital in September 2023, just days after becoming unwell.

An inquest, held in Stoke this week, heard that the Talke Pits resident, who was studying acting at Newcastle-under-Lyme College, had eaten duck which may have been undercooked.

She was admitted to Leighton Hospital in Crewe on September 23 after suffering bloody diarrhoea and nausea, and her symptoms were treated as gastroenteritis.

Initial blood tests indicated evidence of inflammation and she also had tenderness in her stomach. She was given anti-sickness medication and IV fluids, as well as being started on a course of antibiotics.

The antibiotic treatment was stopped after a stool sample revealed on September 26 that she had Shiga toxin-producing E-coli.

Her kidney function deteriorated and blood tests showed thrombocytopenia – a low platelet count – and she had a low sodium level.

Lois was transferred to Leighton Hospital's critical care unit, where her fluid balance could be observed more closely, and arrangements were made for her to go to Royal Stoke University Hospital's kidney unit.

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She was not transferred until the following day however, and a miscommunication meant that she was restarted on antibiotics on her arrival, the inquest heard.

On September 28 Lois developed neurological symptoms and struggled to communicate, as well as developing problems with her vision. She underwent haemodialysis to clear toxins from her body, but it was not able to clear the Shiga toxin-producing E-coli.

A CT scan of her brain showed abnormalities that looked to have been because of ischemia (insufficient blood flow to the brain).

A referral was made to critical care on September 28, but it was not until the early hours of September 29 that Lois was transferred there.

She was sedated and ventilated and further scans were carried out. Attempts were made to reduce her diffuse brain swelling through the use of hypertonic saline, but she died on September 29.

On Tuesday (February 24) the inquest jury at Stoke's Swann House returned a narrative conclusion, that Lois died after contracting Shiga toxin-producing E-coli, which led to haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS).

This rare condition, which the inquest was told occurs in just two out of every 100,000 patients per year in Europe and the US, resulted in multiple organ failure.

Staffordshire Area Coroner Emma Serrano said that at the time Lois was given antibiotics at Leighton Hospital, this was in line with guidance.

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Following the issue of antibiotics being restarted on Lois' arrival at Royal Stoke, a new system has been put in place to ensure all necessary information is handed over during the hospital transfer process.

Ms Serrano, summing up the evidence that had been presented at the inquest, added: "In this case they were concerned she had a secondary infection, so antibiotics were used for that. The delay in being sent to critical care (on September 28 and 29) was a lack of recognition of how sick she was and there was a delay between 5pm and 2am.

"Hypertonic solution should have been taken with her when she went for a scan, but it wasn't. In terms of earlier dialysis, it wouldn't have cleared the toxin, but it may have helped with the swelling.

"There was nothing that could be done to treat the condition she was suffering from and the progress of that. The delay in being conveyed to intensive care had no bearing on her death."

At the conclusion of the inquest, Ms Serrano thanked the jury for their assistance. She added: "Lois sounds like a wonderful girl – I would have much rather met her in person."

In a moving tribute to Lois, read out on the first day of the inquest, her family said: "She cared deeply for those in need. Her compassion wasn't just something she spoke about, it was something she lived.

"She had a deeply creative spirit, she loved to write and would create entire worlds of her own. Acting gave her a way to express her personality and she brought confidence and passion to every performance, she was someone who wanted to make the world better through her art.

"When her niece was born, she embraced being an auntie. She gave so much love and made life so much better by simply being herself – she will forever remain in our hearts."

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