NHS 24 nurse in meningitis death case had fatigue illness

A NURSE adviser with the troubled NHS 24 helpline was suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome when she took a phone call from the family of a girl who later died of meningitis, a fatal accident inquiry heard yesterday.

Susan Dunbar was one of the nurse advisers with the service who took a call from the family of Shomi Miah, 17, an Aberdeen schoolgirl who died last October.

But Aberdeen Sheriff Court was told Ms Dunbar, who started work at NHS 24 in Aberdeen in October 2004, had been suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome since January of last year and was still too ill to give evidence in court.

Details of her medical history were disclosed at a dual fatal accident inquiry being held to examine the role of the helpline in the deaths of Miss Miah and Steven Wiseman, 30, from Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, who died of septic shock soon after contacting the service.

Both families blame the deaths on delays in receiving treatment through NHS 24.

The inquiry continues.