“This is the fight we’re going to take now”: Family of Northampton man Luke Abrahams call for national enquiry into sepsis deaths of young people

Luke’s parents, Richard Abrahams and Julie Needham, along with many other bereaved families across the UK, are calling for automatic inquests into unexpected sepsis deaths of young people and greater accountability for the hospital trusts involved.

Luke, from East Hunsbury, died at Northampton General Hospital on January 23, 2023, after first complaining of a sore throat a week before his death, which later led to sepsis and then necrotising fasciitis – a rare but life-threatening infection often described as a “flesh-eating disease”. He was just 20 years old.

An inquest earlier this year found missed opportunities, but the family still feel they don't know the truth.

Speaking to the Chronicle and Echo, Richard said: “Luke wasn't swabbed properly. When they get into hospital, they should check for sepsis straight away. But they don't, you know, and it's left too late. In Luke's case, it was too late.

“There’s a big possibility he could have survived. Massive possibility.

“It’s accountability we need, and it’s happening to too many families. It’s not just us. There’s a lot of people all over the UK that are suffering.”

Richard said: “We’ve had a meeting with our local MPs, and their support has been tremendous. We think that this is a scandal. And it’s got to stop.

“And while the organisation still takes the blame, this will keep happening. This is why the law for individual accountability has got to change as well.

“Nothing will bring Luke back, but moving forward, we want to see that somebody is responsible for what they’ve done.”

He added: “There’s good and bad in every organisation. But with the NHS, there’s no individual accountability.

“This has to stop because, as I said, while the organisation still takes the blame, this will still go on.

“This is serious. We’re talking about people’s lives. You can’t afford to make mistakes.”

“Nobody understands how we’re feeling. It’s a life sentence for the rest of their life. This is the fight we’re going to take now.”

“We just feel as though the NHS automatically think young people are fit and healthy. They’re taking shortcuts.”

The family have become close with Chloe Longster’s family, from Kettering, who was 13 when she died from sepsis.

Speaking to ITV, Chloe’s mother said: “It’s not just the treatment before angering families, but the treatment of the death afterwards too. Children and young people continue to die of sepsis. I feel that where hospitals are failing, there needs to be real rigour into why that failure is occurring. It shouldn’t be good enough to just say, oh, we’re learning now.”

According to the UK Sepsis Trust, approximately 48,000 people die from sepsis in the UK each year.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “Most infections do not cause sepsis; however, it can lead to incredibly serious complications, and it is vital that people are aware of the symptoms, which can vary hugely.

“That is why NHS England rolled out Martha's Rule, which is being increasingly used by patients, families and staff to better identify and respond to acute deterioration in patients, including sepsis.

“This year, a new national sepsis framework will also be introduced to further improve treatment and aftercare for patients.”

Mike Reader MP and Stuart Andrew MP have been contacted for comment.