'Healthy' woman, 35, died just three days after medics dismissed symptoms of deadly condition

A previously healthy woman died within days of going to A&E with hot flushes, blotchy skin and vomiting.

After initially having her symptoms 'dismissed', Kerry Joanne Wilkins, 35, was diagnosed with liver failure and died just three days after being admitted.

Her family are now questioning why she wasn't offered a liver transplant and say they still haven't been told what caused her liver to fail in the first place.

Kerry, a business owner from Clacton, Essex, sought help at Colchester Hospital in May last year, but was forced to wait six hours to be seen.

Eventually blood tests revealed that Kerry, described as 'the life and soul of the party', had liver failure, a serious and potentially deadly condition if left untreated.

Her sister Jessica Matilda Wilkins, 31, said she felt medics had dismissed how ill her sister felt.

'We were in shock the whole time she was in hospital - they were dismissing us,' she said.

'Kerry was a healthy 35-year-old woman, she didn't have any children but she was always on holiday with her family and her nieces and nephews.

'We thought she was going to pull through.

'I am still in shock now about how it unfolded.'

The mother-of-one added: 'She should have had a new liver, we don't know why they chose not to give her one.'

Ms Wilkins also said the family are hoping to learn what caused her liver failure at an inquest into her death, which will be held later this year.

Recalling her sister's ordeal, Ms Wilkins said she couldn't communicate just a day after being admitted.

'Kerry was completely delirious, her eyes were grey and she could not correspond with us,' she said.

'When we brought it up with the nurses and the consultant, who were on the ward at the time, they said it was normal.

'They were shouting at Kerry saying "answer Kerry, your family want to speak to you" but she didn't respond.'

Ms Wilkins said she also realised that her sister was on her period while she was in hospital so asked the nurses if they had checked to see if she was wearing a tampon or pad.

She said she was worried Kerry might develop Toxic Shock Syndrome — a rare but life-threatening condition caused by an infection sometimes triggered by leaving tampons or menstrual cups in for too long.

Ms Wilkins said that the nurses didn't check so she took Kerry to the toilets, where she became even more unwell.

'I brought my sister to the toilet to see if we could check and she became even more unwell and fell to the floor,' she said.

'I screamed for their help but nobody helped me get her up and nobody helped me get her back to her bed.

'She was looking at me like she was lost, it was like her eyes were saying "help me".'

Kerry's condition deteriorated even more, to the point where she couldn't recognise her own family members.

Ms Wilkins said she then asked medics why Kerry wasn't on a combination of antibiotics, but claims the team said they were waiting to see how she was reacting to other medication.

Kerry fell unconscious shortly after and she was then taken to intensive care because her organs were failing.

Only then was she given a combination of antibiotics - like Ms Wilkins had previously asked for.

'It was an absolute shock to the system to see Kerry in intensive care,' Ms Wilkins said.

'Why did they let her get to that state before they helped her?'

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Ms Wilkins said the family continue to be devastated by Kerry's death.

She was the absolute life and soul of the party,' she said.

'Everyone liked her and she liked everyone.

'She lit up the room - she was the best person.

'I can't even describe what we've lost, we feel like we've lost our right arm.'

An inquest into Kerry's death will take place at Seax House in Chelmsford, Essex, on October 23.

Dr Tim Leary of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Colchester Hospital said: 'I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to Kerry's family for their loss.

'We understand the family raised some concerns regarding her care and we have listened and responded to them through our patient advice and liaison team.

'We encourage patients and family members to raise concerns regarding the care they receive from our services and we are happy to look into these.

'There are many factors to consider in regards to the indications for a liver transplant and suitability, and it may not be an option for every patient.'