Inquiry into allergy woman's death

Teresa Innes had been in a coma since September 2001

Police are investigating the death of a woman with an allergy to penicillin who slipped into a coma after being given the drug.

Teresa Innes, 38, from Bradford, died at the city's Royal Infirmary on 9 August after her artificial feeding was withdrawn.

The mother-of-one, a former care worker, was admitted in September 2001 to undergo a minor operation on an infected insect bite on her leg.

She fell into a coma after suffering an anaphylactic shock, which stopped her heart for a few minutes.

NHS 'regret'

A spokeswoman for West Yorkshire Police told BBC News Online the force would be examining the circumstances surrounding her death.

She said: "The matter has been referred to West Yorkshire Police by Her Majesty's Coroner for investigation.

"Police inquiries are now ongoing and we are liaising with the Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust."

A spokesman for the trust expressed his regret at the events which led to Ms Innes' death.

He said: "Everyone connected with Teresa's care is deeply saddened by her death and our sympathies are very much with her family and friends at this sad time.

Lessons from tragedy

"We have expressed our deepest regret to the family for the tragic events that happened in September 2001.

"Although an extremely rare occurrence, it is one from which we, and the wider NHS, are determined to learn so that we reduce the risk of it happening again to an absolute minimum.

"Since the tragedy, we made every effort to ensure Teresa was as comfortable as possible."

He added that family and friends of Ms Innes were being supported by specialist counsellors.

She leaves an 18-year-old son.