Test plea follows gran’s death

A HEARTBROKEN family is urging hospitals to make changes to A and E procedures following the death of a grandmother.

Ann Millwood (75) of Shaw died in September 2011 after suffering an allergic reaction to antibiotics.

Mrs Millwood was given the drugs in A&E at the Royal Oldham Hospital, after breaking her ankle. She suffered an immediate reaction and died 45 minutes later.

Her family is now urging doctors to carry out allergy tests on patients in non life-threatening situations.

He Stepdaughter Susan Thorpe, said: “If a patient needs urgent treatment they can’t test for allergies because they won’t have time. Ann had a broken ankle and was in pain — but she certainly wasn’t dying.

“A quick patch test would have taken two or three minutes and they could have established that she was allergic to the antibiotic. That should be routine.”

An inquest in Rochdale heard that Mrs Millwood was given morphine and an X-ray on arrival at hospital.

She was given antibiotics because she had an open wound.

Seconds later Mrs Millwood fell unconscious and her heart stopped.

Emergency consultant Dr Mark Riley told the inquest: “I’ve been working as a doctor for 12 years and this is the first time I’ve seen such a severe reaction.”