Misdiagnosed swine flu victim was sent home with antibiotics

Published on Friday 25 September 2009 11:40

THE family of a man who died of swine flu days after being told by a doctor he had ordinary flu today demanded answers.

Bill Anderson, 53, from Fife, was the first Scots victim of the H1N1 strain who had no other health problems.

Daughter Monica said an out-of-hours doctor diagnosed her father with ordinary flu and sent him home with antibiotics.

The former RAF medic collapsed at home three days later on September 8 and died from pneumonia in Dunfermline's Queen Margaret Hospital the following afternoon.

Ms Anderson, 21, urged anyone worried about their diagnosis to get a second opinion.

"Would it have made a difference if he had been admitted to hospital straight away? That's the question we are asking.

"They believed it was just normal flu. Maybe you shouldn't settle for the first answer."

Squash player Mr Anderson fell ill on September 4 shortly after returning from Tenerife with his wife Lynda, 56.

The next day – a Saturday – he called NHS 24 who advised him to see a doctor in Kirkcaldy's Victoria Hospital.

Mr Anderson was given a prescription and spent the next few days in bed but by Tuesday his condition worsened.

His younger daughter Heather called 999 and he was rushed to the Victoria and then transferred to Queen Margaret Hospital where he later died.

His death came nine weeks after walking his elder daughter down the aisle.

Ms Anderson, who is due to give birth in three weeks, said the family is in shock and awaiting answers from the procurator fiscal.

"There are toxicology results to come back and then they'll address the questions we have."

NHS Fife said it could not comment on Mr Anderson's case.