Aspiring doctor, 17, died after allergic reaction to meds during tonsil removal

A coroner has warned more allergy sufferers could die due to a ‘lack of national leadership’ after a teenager died during a routine surgery.

Alexandra Briess was only 17 years old when she suffered an ‘unpredictable’ allergic reaction to one of the drugs used after she had surgery to have her tonsils removed.

Following the inquest into Alexandra’s death coroner Heidi Connor has written to Health Secretary Steve Barclay, the NHS, and allergy organisations to demand change.

She says a new job role within the NHS should act as a leader for allergy funding and research – otherwise, more people are at risk of death.

Mrs Connor said: ‘The only way to improve understanding and prevent or reduce future deaths is to gather information nationally and fund appropriate research.

‘Appropriate organisations already exist, and there is a lot of goodwill towards improving understanding in this area. It does however require national leadership and “joining up” of these organisations.

‘There is significant goodwill and desire to improve amongst numerous organisations involved in anaphylaxis work.

‘What is lacking is national leadership and funding. In my view, consideration should be given to creating a leadership role and responsibility within NHS England to coordinate a national approach.’

Alexandra died at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading on May 31 2021.

A week before she had a routine tonsillectomy, but suffered post-surgery bleeding and required further surgery on May 30.

She suffered a ‘sudden deterioration and cardiac arrest’ during anesthesia due to the drug Rocuronium and could not be revived.

A tribute page set up in her memory raised almost £9,000, with friends fondly remembering the ‘beautiful’ girl who was a ‘loyal and loving friend with a great sense of fun’.

She was an aspiring doctor herself and volunteered at a children’s charity.

Alexandra leaves behind her retired doctor father, David, and mother Tanya who is a GP practice nurse. They did not wish to comment.

In her prevention of future deaths report, Mrs Connor cited three other cases where Brits who died due to allergies.

They were Celia Marsh, a 42-year-old mum who died after eating a ‘vegan’ Pret A Manger wrap with milk in, 18-year-old Shante Turay-Thomas who ate hazelnut at her family home, and 14-year-old Ruben Bousquet who had popcorn contaminated with milk at a cinema.

In all three cases, coroners warned there needs to be more funding to stop allergy deaths.

Mrs Connor added: ‘This is not new territory.

‘Gathering data and using this to research and reduce the risk of future deaths requires funding, and this should be reviewed.’

Mr Barclay has until June 2 to respond to the coroner’s report.

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