Trust apologises for giving ‘nil by mouth’ patient food
A hospital trust has apologised to a family and paid an out- of-court settlement after a “nil by mouth” patient developed pneumonia and died after he was given sponge pudding and custard.
Mark Ullyatt died after nursing staff at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield fed him a small amount of food and fluids, which got into his lung and caused him to develop pneumonia.
Mr Ullyatt, from Sheffield, had been recovering from surgery and should not have been given any food or fluids orally.
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Hide AdThe 40-year-old was paralysed after suffering spina bifida and traumatic paraplegia following a road accident when he was eight.
He was admitted to the hospital for surgery in February 2008 and had recovered well after a “routine” operation, but four days later was fed by a nurse.
He died in the intensive care unit.