Heatstroke warning as runner left in wheelchair after being let go from hospital early
A Great North Run competitor was left in a wheelchair after being discharged from hospital too early with heatstroke.
Luke Oldfield suffered life changing disabilities after he collapsed at the finish line of the run in Newcastle in 2019, when he was 25 years old. He was taken to South Tyneside District Hospital in South Shields but was sent home hours later.
He suffered multi-organ failure on a study trip to the US, and a severe brain injury, resulting in permanent mobility, speech, and vision impairments.
Now 31, Luke said: 'Before all this, I was independent and active and was concentrating on my PhD and the future. I don't remember the end of the Great North Run, just coming round in the tent afterwards. I knew I was in a bad way but when I was sent home from hospital that night I just trusted what I was told. The days afterwards I wasn't myself. I was tired and aching all over. I don't really remember much after that and getting to hospital in the States."
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, has since apologised and said staff should have monitored him for longer.
The trust's executive medical director, Dr Shaz Wahid, said: "We are sorry that we did not keep Luke in hospital for longer when he arrived with us showing signs of heatstroke after taking part in the Great North Run.
"Although it is not clear whether this would have changed his overall health outcome, there is no doubt that we should have monitored him for a longer period of time and for that we wholeheartedly apologise." Steps had since been taken to "prevent this from happening again".
Luke took part in the Great North Run to raise money for Target Ovarian Cancer. A Leeds Beckett University PhD student, he was given intravenous fluids at the hospital.
But he was sent home without safety advice on signs and symptoms to look out for. Nine days later, he was hospitalised with acute liver failure during a study trip to Chicago and was airlifted to Detroit for an emergency liver transplant.
He underwent an operation to treat swelling on his brain and compartment syndrome, a condition which cut off blood flow to his legs, and also suffered kidney damage.
"When I came round from my surgeries, the gravity of what happened started to hit," he said. "I awoke a totally different person and one who couldn't do anything for himself."
He continues to experience difficulties with speech, writing, memory, fatigue, and coordination. Luke recommenced his studies and was recently awarded a doctorate.
"I know my life hasn't turned out as I thought but I'm so grateful to be alive and want to make the most of it," said Luke, now 31. "I just hope that by sharing my story I can not only warn others of the dangers of heatstroke but also inspire people who may be going through a life-changing event."
After six weeks in hospital, he was flown back to the UK, spending nearly two years in hospital and a rehabilitation unit. Luke, who was forced to put his PhD on hold, has been left wheelchair-bound and suffers from permanent speech and vision problems.
He instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and help him access the ongoing specialist rehabilitation and therapies he requires.
Heatstroke is a potentially life-threatening condition and should be treated as an emergency, according to NHS guidelines.
Tracy Tai, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Luke, said: 'While the signs of heat exhaustion often pass, if they don't they can turn into heat stroke.
"It is a medical emergency and can result in life-changing complications, such as in Lukes's case.
'The last few years have been incredibly traumatic for Luke and his family. Understandably they've had many questions and concerns about what happened, especially around the decision to discharge him from hospital on the evening of the Great North Run.
'Worrying issues in Luke's A&E care have been admitted. While Luke has shown great determination to try and not be defined by his injuries, he still faces an uncertain future and many challenges.
'We're determined to ensure Luke has access to the specialist life-long support and therapies he requires to maximise his recovery.
'We urge everyone to be aware of the dangers of heat stroke and the need for care standards to be upheld at all times.'
Luke remained in a rehabilitation centre until September 2021. Luke was unable to return to his previous home as it was unsuitable and had to sell his home to purchase and adapt a bungalow for his needs.
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Daily Mirror
3 days ago
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Heatstroke warning as runner left in wheelchair after being let go from hospital early
Luke Oldfield suffered life changing disabilities after he collapsed at the finish line in 2019 - he was taken to hospital but was sent home hours later, and soon suffered multi-organ failure A Great North Run competitor was left in a wheelchair after being discharged from hospital too early with heatstroke. Luke Oldfield suffered life changing disabilities after he collapsed at the finish line of the run in Newcastle in 2019, when he was 25 years old. He was taken to South Tyneside District Hospital in South Shields but was sent home hours later. He suffered multi-organ failure on a study trip to the US, and a severe brain injury, resulting in permanent mobility, speech, and vision impairments. Now 31, Luke said: 'Before all this, I was independent and active and was concentrating on my PhD and the future. I don't remember the end of the Great North Run, just coming round in the tent afterwards. I knew I was in a bad way but when I was sent home from hospital that night I just trusted what I was told. The days afterwards I wasn't myself. I was tired and aching all over. I don't really remember much after that and getting to hospital in the States." South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, has since apologised and said staff should have monitored him for longer. The trust's executive medical director, Dr Shaz Wahid, said: "We are sorry that we did not keep Luke in hospital for longer when he arrived with us showing signs of heatstroke after taking part in the Great North Run. "Although it is not clear whether this would have changed his overall health outcome, there is no doubt that we should have monitored him for a longer period of time and for that we wholeheartedly apologise." Steps had since been taken to "prevent this from happening again". Luke took part in the Great North Run to raise money for Target Ovarian Cancer. A Leeds Beckett University PhD student, he was given intravenous fluids at the hospital. But he was sent home without safety advice on signs and symptoms to look out for. Nine days later, he was hospitalised with acute liver failure during a study trip to Chicago and was airlifted to Detroit for an emergency liver transplant. He underwent an operation to treat swelling on his brain and compartment syndrome, a condition which cut off blood flow to his legs, and also suffered kidney damage. "When I came round from my surgeries, the gravity of what happened started to hit," he said. "I awoke a totally different person and one who couldn't do anything for himself." He continues to experience difficulties with speech, writing, memory, fatigue, and coordination. Luke recommenced his studies and was recently awarded a doctorate. "I know my life hasn't turned out as I thought but I'm so grateful to be alive and want to make the most of it," said Luke, now 31. "I just hope that by sharing my story I can not only warn others of the dangers of heatstroke but also inspire people who may be going through a life-changing event." After six weeks in hospital, he was flown back to the UK, spending nearly two years in hospital and a rehabilitation unit. Luke, who was forced to put his PhD on hold, has been left wheelchair-bound and suffers from permanent speech and vision problems. He instructed expert medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and help him access the ongoing specialist rehabilitation and therapies he requires. Heatstroke is a potentially life-threatening condition and should be treated as an emergency, according to NHS guidelines. Tracy Tai, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Luke, said: 'While the signs of heat exhaustion often pass, if they don't they can turn into heat stroke. "It is a medical emergency and can result in life-changing complications, such as in Lukes's case. 'The last few years have been incredibly traumatic for Luke and his family. Understandably they've had many questions and concerns about what happened, especially around the decision to discharge him from hospital on the evening of the Great North Run. 'Worrying issues in Luke's A&E care have been admitted. While Luke has shown great determination to try and not be defined by his injuries, he still faces an uncertain future and many challenges. 'We're determined to ensure Luke has access to the specialist life-long support and therapies he requires to maximise his recovery. 'We urge everyone to be aware of the dangers of heat stroke and the need for care standards to be upheld at all times.' Luke remained in a rehabilitation centre until September 2021. Luke was unable to return to his previous home as it was unsuitable and had to sell his home to purchase and adapt a bungalow for his needs.
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