Family expresses worries about mother's rabies treatment.

The relatives of a woman who passed away from rabies following contact with a puppy in Morocco have expressed their hope that an upcoming inquest will honor her with "dignity in death."

Yvonne Ford, 59, was diagnosed at Barnsley Hospital after returning to the UK and later transferred to the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, where she died on 11 June. Her husband, Ronald Ford, and children, Adam Ford and Robyn Thomson, told a pre-inquest review at the Sheffield Medico-Legal Centre that they were dissatisfied with the treatment she received in Barnsley.

A hospital spokesperson stated that they were unable to comment at this stage of the proceedings.

The family expressed concern over how the hospital responded to her difficulties with speaking, eating, and drinking. Court documents submitted by the hospital indicated she could walk, but her children said they had video evidence showing otherwise.

Assistant Coroner Marilyn Whittle requested that the family provide the video along with their account of her condition when she became unwell. She said she would consider evidence regarding Mrs Fords mobility, eating abilities, and any other relevant details that could clarify the circumstances of her death.

Ms Whittle acknowledged that the approaching Christmas and what would have been her 60th birthday would be especially difficult for the family, giving them until the end of January to submit their evidence.

She described the familys determination to ask questions of witnesses as a "burning desire," emphasizing that inquests are not intended to assign blame but to determine the medical cause of death and the events leading to it.

After the hearing, Mr Ford expressed that it was unfair how his wife had been treated. He recounted that on 7 June, following an MRI at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, staff had informed him that she did not have rabies.

Adam Ford noted that while this information had been troubling, the family had no concerns about her care at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. Robyn Thomson stated that she hopes the inquest will restore her mothers dignity in death.

Earlier in October, she had traveled to Cambodia to assist with a dog vaccination program through Mission Rabies. Reflecting on her mothers illness, she described the experience as "horrendous" and expressed a desire to prevent others from suffering in the same way.

The inquest is scheduled to take place from 2 to 5 March next year and will be conducted before a jury, as rabies is a notifiable disease.

Author: Chloe Ramirez