Builder left '24 hours from death' after being sent home with 'infection'

18 March 2024 , 09:57

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Stephen Brown says he went to Millrise Medical Practice with pain in his back and legs and underwent tests (Image: Stoke Live / BPM Media)

A builder was sent home from his GP surgery with antibiotics two days before doctors told him he could have had just 24 hours left to live.

Stephen Brown from Milton in Stoke-on-Trent went to his GP with pain in his back and legs but was told he probably had an infection and was sent home with pills.

The 33-year-old said staff at Millrise Medical Practice told him they thought he had epididymitis or prostatitis - inflammation in the scrotum area or prostate - linked to an infection, StokeonTrentLive reports. But after the pain became unbearable, builder Stephen took himself to A&E just two days later.

Medics at the Royal Stoke University Hospital accident unit told Stephen he actually had deep vein thrombosis and a pulmonary embolism. He spent eight days in the Royal Stoke, was bedbound for eight weeks, and has had to give up his job as a builder.

Now Stephen has to wear compression socks and take blood thinners for the rest of his life. A complaint to the Milton surgery has concluded that Stephen's 'clinical situation had evolved' between his GP appointment and his A&E diagnosis.

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Stephen's legs during his recovery (Stoke Live / BPM Media)

The dad-of-two said: “At the hospital, a doctor turned around and said I had two blood clots. Both could have been fatal. They told me it was lucky I came in tonight because in 24 hours there was a high possibility I could have been dead.

“The doctor at the GP surgery had told me they thought I had an infection. I said ‘I’m sure it’s more than that I’m in agony’. I was prescribed antibiotics and told to stay at home and rest.”

He added: “I’ve had to learn to walk again, I’ve had to have a stick for two months. I had five months off work - I’m broke. I’ve had to stop working as I’m not fit enough to do it.

“I’ve got two children and for three months I couldn’t do anything with them. They wanted me to play on the Playstation but I couldn’t physically sit down. It’s affected my whole life. I wasn’t healthy before but I was kind of fit. I can’t do half the stuff I used to.”

Millrise Medical Practice has a 'good' Care Quality Commission rating. It has declined to comment on Stephen's case.

But a letter from the practice following Stephen's complaint states: "In light of your complaint, we held a complaints meeting within the practice where we considered the details and findings from your complaint in significant detail. We reflected and identified any areas of learning as this allows us to continually improve the service we provide."

Rachel Alexander