Family of Boston father who died 24 hours after being misdiagnosed with tonsillitis share story in hope of helping others
A Boston father-of-one died just 24 hours after issues with his throat were misdiagnosed as tonsillitis, prompting calls for lessons to be learned.
Michael Reynolds, 29, spoke to his GP on November 29, 2023, complaining of a cough of about two-to-three months, along with a sore and swollen throat. He was prescribed a steroid nasal spray and referred for a chest x-ray.
However, his symptoms worsened and the following morning he was offered an urgent in-person appointment.
He was seen by a different GP, and reported being unable to eat or swallow, and that his throat was closing up. He had a high fever and was spitting into a bowl, because he was unable to swallow his saliva.
He was diagnosed with tonsillitis and prescribed oral antibiotics. While there was a question about attending A&E, it was not made clear to Michael that he needed to go straight away, an inquest last month was told.
Michael and his wife Charlotte went to the pharmacy to collect the medication that he had been prescribed, before going home.
Later that morning, he collapsed and had a seizure.
The HGV driver – who, the previous year, welcomed son Jacob into the world – was rushed to hospital, but he died the next morning.
Following Michael’s death, Charlotte, now 31, instructed medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his care.
Charlotte and her legal team are now calling for lessons to be learned. It comes after an inquest at Lincolnshire Coroner’s Court concluded Michael died from a hypoxic cardiac arrest related to an upper airway obstruction and epiglottitis – swelling of the flap that covers the windpipe when swallowing.
Charlotte said: “Watching Jacob grow up without his daddy by his side is devastating and we miss Michael every single day.
“Michael meant everything to us and losing him has left a huge hole in our lives that will never go away. We'd do anything to bring him back.”
She added: “All I can hope for now is that by sharing our story, it can lead to improvements in care for others and more awareness around the signs of epiglottitis and the need for emergency treatment, as it's something I'd never even heard of before. I wouldn't want anyone going through what we have.”
The inquest was told Michael attended Swineshead Medical Group twice before he died.
The inquest was told he did not receive ‘robust’ advice to attend A&E.
The coroner found there was a ‘missed opportunity’, adding that had Michael gone to A&E, he may have been transferred to resus earlier.
It was also recognised that staff there would likely be more familiar with symptoms of epiglottitis.
The family's lawyer Rosie Charlton, said: “While we're pleased to have been able to secure the answers that Michael's family deserve, it's now vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety and help prevent others from suffering in the way Michael did.”
Swineshead Medical Practice was approached for a comment in relation to Michael’s care.
A spokesman said: “We would like to express our condolences to the family and friends of Mr Reynolds. We are unable to add any further comment at this point.”
NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board, which has responsibility for commissioning GP practices in the county, made the same comment when approached by The Standard.