A coroner’s inquest has heard that Rhoda Freedman died after contracting Legionnaires’ disease while living in a care home in Essex. The 91-year-old woman was a resident of Wensley House in Epping and was admitted to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow on 13th May 2024 after becoming unwell.
Proceedings took place in Chelmsford where jurors were told that Ms Freedman arrived at hospital confused, agitated and dehydrated. Following medical tests, she was diagnosed with a severe type of Legionnaires diseased known as bronchopneumonia, which the post-mortem examination confirmed was the provisional cause of death.
The inquest heard that Ms Freedman has been living in a care home since 2023 after a fall at her previous home. Despite being deaf and a wheelchair user, she remained engaged with family life, enjoyed reading and watching quiz shows to keep her general knowledge active. She also lived with several long-term health conditions, including diabetes, kidney disease and hearing loss.
During the hearing, family members said they hope they investigation will help prevent similar tragedies in the future, and to help reduce the risk of further deaths linked to Legionnaires’ disease.
Legionnaires’ disease is a serious form of pneumonia caused by inhaling water droplets contaminated with Legionella bacteria. Although relatively uncommon, it is stated that around 200 cases are reported in England each year, the disease can be life-threatening, particularly for older adults, or people with underlying health conditions.
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Source: BBC News