A 34 year old mother tragically died from a rare allergic reaction after being rushed to hospital with severe toothache, following weeks of unsuccessful attempts to secure a dental appointment. Leigh Rodgers, a kitchen designer at B&Q, had been suffering from excruciating toothache that spread to her neck and chest for approximately two weeks.
On March 7, 2024, she was taken to the University Hospital of North Durham, where she was assessed for a tooth abscess and given a CT scan to rule out Ludwig’s angina – a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection caused by a tooth infection. Tragically, Leigh suffered a rare allergic reaction to the contrast medium used in the imaging process and passed away just 90 minutes later.
The inquest held on February 19, 2025, revealed no evidence of Ludwig’s angina in the CT scan results. Leigh’s heartbroken mother, Pam Rodgers, 56, believes that if her daughter had been able to secure a dental appointment earlier, she would still be alive today, as the need for a scan to rule out the infection would not have arisen.
Leigh, who leaves behind a nine year old daughter, lived in Stanhope, Co. Durham, and was unable to get an NHS appointment due to long waiting times and backlogs, according to her family. Her partner, Darren, told the inquest that Leigh had “tried to get a dentist appointment but couldn’t for weeks”.
Leigh’s mum Pam said: “Every time I close my eyes I imagine my daughter in the coffin. If she could’ve gotten a dental appointment, she wouldn’t be dead, and if she could’ve gotten urgent care she wouldn’t have been dead.”
Senior assistant coroner Crispin Oliver determined that Leigh’s death was due to an extreme allergic reaction to the contrast media given for a CT scan after visiting the Emergency Department at University Hospital of North Durham for what were thought to be tooth abscess symptoms and possible Ludwig’s Angina.
NHS Direct warns of rare risks associated with CT scans, including an allergy to the contrast medium, potentially causing weakness, sweating, and breathing difficulties. Patients are instructed to remain at the hospital for about 30 minutes post-scan if they received the contrast medium. Pam believes her daughter was not adequately informed about these risks.
Pam said: “I don’t accept that they were too busy and there’s nothing stopping them from handing out a leaflet to explain the risks and to explain what they are doing to her. I want to make people aware of the risks of contrast media and issues with the NHS. Those involved at the inquest and were saying it was someone else was at fault. But it should be a department wide decision and not on individual doctors.”
A representative for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust expressed: “We are deeply saddened by Leigh’s death, and our heartfelt condolences go out to her family during this incredibly difficult time. We are fully committed to providing the highest standard of patient care. A thorough investigation into Leigh’s care has been carried out, and the findings have been shared with Leigh’s family.
“We are ensuring that the lessons learned from this report are embedded across the Trust to improve our services.”
