'Beautiful soul' died from rare abdominal condition after Sandwell Hospital failed to detect cause of suffering
An aspiring nurse described as a "beautiful soul" died after repeated visits to Sandwell General Hospital failed to detect the cause of her suffering severe abdominal pain.
The family of 18-year-old Zana Afrifa, who lived in Smethwick, have reached a settlement with Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, after a medical negligence claim investigated by law firm Lime Solicitors.
She was found dead by her mother on September 18, 2021 after being discharged from the former Sandwell General Hospital the previous morning.
The trust said it was committed to learning lessons raised by the case.
She had attended hospital and her GP six times between October 2019 and her death, with her symptoms often attributed to constipation.
However, Miss Afrifa's underlying condition went undetected until a post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered a very rare cecal volvulus or a twisting of the intestine usually seen in older patients – which led to peritonitis, an infection that can prove life-threatening if left untreated.
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Miss Afrifa, who was studying health and social care at college, worked part-time at a retirement village and had dreamed of going on to university to become a nurse despite struggling with recurrent abdominal pain, vomiting and constipation for almost two years.
Her distraught family explained that on the evening of September 16, 2021 she was taken to A&E with the same symptoms. Her mother described how her daughter was in extreme distress while waiting to be seen, and was crying out in pain and throwing up.
She was examined in the early hours of September 17 and was told she was constipated. She was treated and later discharged. Despite this she remained unwell and sadly her mother found her unresponsive in bed the next morning.
An inquest in October 2023 heard evidence about the rarity of the condition and recorded a conclusion of natural causes. However, the family felt that opportunities to recognise the seriousness of her condition were missed.
Lime Solicitors Subsequently carried out a detailed investigation into her care, obtaining independent expert medical evidence. The claim alleged failures in her assessment, investigation and follow-up during her final hospital attendance, including the absence of further imaging, escalation to a surgical team and adequate safety-netting advice.
The family believe that critical blood test results were not reviewed during her final visit to A&E, potentially allowing a serious infection to go undetected. They feel this oversight led to warning signs being missed at a critical time for intervention.
They described her as a ‘beautiful soul’ who brought warmth and kindness to everyone she met and hope that telling her story will help ensure that severe abdominal symptoms are always thoroughly investigated and appropriately escalated.
Her uncle, Nigel Seales, said: “Zana was a loving daughter, sister and auntie with such a gentle and caring nature. She wanted nothing more than to help others and dreamed of becoming a nurse.
"Losing her has left a huge hole in our family. While nothing can bring her back, we hope that sharing Zana’s story helps raise awareness and prevents other families from experiencing the pain we live with every day.”
Natalizia Capizzi, medical negligence legal director at Lime Solicitors, added: “Zana’s case is profoundly heartbreaking. While her symptoms were complex and her condition rare, our investigation identified concerns around her assessment and follow-up during her final hospital attendance.
“This case highlights how serious abdominal conditions can sometimes be overlooked when symptoms resemble more common illnesses. The settlement provides recognition of the family’s suffering and underlines the importance of learning lessons to improve patient safety, even where liability is not admitted.”
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust's chief medical officer Dr Mark Anderson said: “We extend our deepest sympathies to all those who knew Zana for their heartbreaking loss.
"We have reflected on the circumstances of her tragic death and remain committed to learning any lessons that may help improve patient safety.”
