Inquest Reveals Failures in Care of Student Who Died from Sepsis

William Hewes, 22, died in January 2023 after delayed antibiotic treatment at Homerton University Hospital, where his mother worked as a senior doctor.

William Hewes, a healthy 22-year-old university student, died from sepsis within 24 hours of being admitted to Homerton University Hospital in January 2023.
An inquest revealed that medical staff failed to administer antibiotics within the critical one-hour window recommended by national guidelines for suspected sepsis cases.
Deborah Burns, Hewes' mother and a consultant paediatrician at the hospital, repeatedly raised concerns about the delay in treatment but felt her son was left unmonitored and untreated for too long.
Medical staff cited communication failures and oversight as reasons for the delay, with some admitting they assumed antibiotics had been administered or were unclear on responsibilities.
Experts testified that prompt treatment could have improved Hewes' chances of survival, and the inquest continues to examine systemic issues in his care.