A coroner has ruled that a young mother died from sepsis after medical failings within the NHS led to her being prescribed the wrong antibiotics during a worsening infection. Aleisha Rochester, 33, a bank cashier from Croydon, died in August 2023, two weeks after undergoing what was expected to be a routine procedure to remove an abscess from her left armpit.

Rochester had attended hospital and GP appointments several times as her condition deteriorated, but the medication she was initially given was not effective against the bacteria responsible for her infection.

The procedure to remove abscesses from her armpit and groin was carried out on 5 August 2023 at St Thomas' Hospital. However, within days she became unwell, and the surgical wound in her armpit developed a serious infection.

During an inquest, assistant coroner Sian Reeves said medical staff at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust failed to follow their own antimicrobial guidelines when prescribing antibiotics on 15 August.

The coroner explained that the drugs Rochester received did not effectively target the likely bacteria causing the infection. She also noted that the surgical team did not consult the hospital’s microbiology specialists before selecting the antibiotic treatment.

A different antibiotic was prescribed the following day that did align with hospital guidance, but by then Rochester’s condition had significantly worsened. On 17 August she was admitted to intensive care at St Helier Hospital.

By that stage, she had developed septic shock and multiple organ failure, with additional signs of infection affecting her lungs. Despite intensive medical treatment, including ventilation, strong antibiotics and life-support measures, her condition continued to deteriorate.

In the early hours of 19 August, Rochester suffered a cardiac arrest and could not be revived.

Recording her conclusion, Reeves stated that Rochester should have been given the correct antibiotics on 15 August and that she would most likely have survived if appropriate treatment had been provided earlier. The coroner ruled that neglect contributed to her death.

Rochester had a long-term skin condition known as Hidradenitis Suppurativa, which causes painful abscesses and recurring skin infections.

Following the findings, the NHS trust involved has issued an apology. Rochester’s mother, Lorna, has also begun legal action against the trust.

In a tribute, she described her daughter as a loving and compassionate person with a strong and independent spirit.

“Aleisha was the most caring daughter anyone could wish for,” she said. “She had a vibrant personality and dreams of starting her own business.”

She also spoke about Rochester’s devotion to her son, Xavier, who was eight at the time of the inquest.

“The bond between Aleisha and Xavier was clear in every moment they shared,” she said. “There isn’t a day that goes by when we don’t think about her or miss her.

“The hardest thing to accept is that she will never see Xavier grow up or celebrate the milestones in his life.”

The inquest into Rochester’s death concluded in December, confirming that earlier and appropriate antibiotic treatment would likely have prevented the tragedy.