Coroner Warns of Systemic Failures After Teen's Death from Missed Asthma Diagnosis

The Royal Free Hospital faces scrutiny for understaffing, inadequate monitoring, and flawed safety-netting practices following Billie Wicks' preventable death.

• Sixteen-year-old Billie Wicks died after her first asthma attack went undiagnosed during a visit to the Royal Free Hospital's A&E department in September 2023.
• A coroner's report found that the hospital's understaffed emergency department failed to conduct proper observations or provide a senior clinical review before discharging Billie.
• The coroner criticized the hospital's reliance on 'safety-netting' advice, which dulled the urgency of Billie's parents to seek further medical help when her condition worsened.
• The hospital has implemented measures to address staffing shortages and improve alert systems for abnormal test results but remains under scrutiny for systemic issues.
• The coroner's Prevention of Future Deaths report warns that without further action, similar tragedies could occur, with responses from medical bodies expected by May 12, 2025.

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