Celiac UK Advocates Improved Hospital Care Following Tragic Weetabix-Related Death

Celiac.com - 12/11/2023 - Coeliac UK, a charity dedicated to supporting individuals with celiac disease, is urging hospitals to enhance their care for celiac patients, emphasizing the need for improved awareness and adherence to dietary restrictions. 

Their call comes in the wake of the tragic death of Hazel Pearson, a 79-year-old woman with celiac disease, who passed away after being mistakenly served Weetabix, a cereal containing gluten, despite explicit warnings from her family, and clear indications in her medical records.

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The inquest into Mrs. Pearson's death revealed that neglect played a role, leading Coeliac UK's head of advocacy, Tristan Humphreys, to assert that her demise was a "clear failure of care that should never have been allowed to happen." He expressed concern about systemic shortcomings in supporting those with celiac disease when they require medical attention, citing a Coeliac UK survey indicating that 70% of respondents believed that catering and medical staff lacked knowledge about gluten-free diets and the risk of cross-contamination. Additionally, over three-quarters of respondents reported having family or friends bring them gluten-free food while in the hospital.

Humphreys stressed that while Wales has mandatory food standards outlining the necessary level of care, these standards were not met in Mrs. Pearson's case. Coeliac UK is actively providing advice and guidance to ensure the safe provision of gluten-free food.

The Betsi Cadwaladr health board, responsible for the care lapses in Mrs. Pearson's case, is now under scrutiny and has committed to reviewing care practices for celiac patients. The inquest revealed inadequate systems in place at the hospital, with Mrs. Pearson experiencing similar dietary oversights at a different hospital months before her death.

Mrs. Pearson fell seriously ill after consuming Weetabix at Wrexham Maelor Hospital and succumbed to aspiration pneumonia four days later. The inquest stressed that the hospital should have been aware of her dietary restrictions but lacked proper systems to ensure compliance.

Assistant coroner Kate Robertson, presiding over the inquest, expressed her intent to issue a warning to the health board regarding the risk of future deaths. The health board, criticized for a delayed response to Mrs. Pearson's death, is now tasked with reviewing the findings and taking appropriate action to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Read more at bbc.com