Mum dies from blood poisoning after scratching hand while gardening

The mother of a woman who died from sepsis after she cut her hand gardening says she believes her daughter would still be alive if she had been given the correct medical treatment when she first complained of feeling unwell.

Lucinda Smith started feeling unwell with a pain in her shoulder a few days after she scratched her hand while gardening at her home in Billericay in Essex.

The 43-year-old mother of two went to see her GP but was sent away with a prescription to control the pain and was told to see a physiotherapist.

Miss Smith 's condition continued to deteriorate and 3 days later she went to the accident and emergency department at Basildon Hospital.

Her mother, Shirley believes by then her fate was already sealed.

A blood test revealed Miss Smith had sepsis, which is a form of blood poisoning. She was immediately admitted for emergency treatment but died two days later from organ failure.

The inquest ruled she died of toxic shock caused by sepsis.

What is sepsis and what are the symptoms? For more information click here