The family of a beloved mother who tragically passed away from rabies after a puppy scratch has raised concerns about the NHS’s preparedness to handle her condition. Yvonne Ford, 59, succumbed to rabies weeks following a puppy scratch she received while vacationing in Morocco. Despite undergoing treatment at Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, Yvonne passed away on June 11. During a preliminary inquest, her family questioned the NHS’s ability to manage a severe diagnosis like Yvonne’s, as reported by Yorkshire Live.
Yvonne’s husband, Ron Ford, expressed his desire to inquire directly with the medical professionals about overlooked aspects of her treatment. The family also highlighted discrepancies in information provided to them during Yvonne’s care, citing a phone call where they were assured that she did not have rabies.
Assistant Coroner Ms. Whittle explained to the family that the coroner’s role was to address the factual aspects of the case, despite the family’s desire to pose specific questions to the doctors involved in Yvonne’s treatment.
Robyn, Yvonne’s 32-year-old daughter, described her late mother as a compassionate individual with a profound love for animals. Recalling the incident in Morocco, Robyn mentioned that her parents were on a private beach when the puppy scratched Yvonne, initially seeming minor with no visible signs of infection. However, Yvonne later developed severe symptoms, including headaches, pain, inability to sleep, walk, or talk, leading to hallucinations and difficulty swallowing. Following a diagnosis of rabies, Yvonne was placed in an induced coma, but due to the inevitable outcome of rabies, her life support was eventually discontinued.
A four-day jury inquest into Yvonne’s passing is scheduled for March 2 next year.