'I was driven to brink of suicide after infection'

THE birth of a fourth child should be reason to celebrate. But for Glynis Tinsley, the MRSA superbug drove her to the brink of suicide.

The 41-year-old social worker gave birth to Danielle by Caesarean section at Basildon Hospital on 10 January this year. Four days later, when she was to be discharged, Mrs Tinsley was still in agony from a weeping wound.

Mrs Tinsley, of Vange, Essex, said: "They let me go home, although I didn't feel at all well. My Caesarean wound obviously wasn't healing properly - although everyone told me it was."

A week later, her GP told Mrs Tinsley she had contracted MRSA. For four weeks she fought the infection but her ordeal was by no means over.

"I got this horrendous back pain. I ended up in AE having blood tests and X-rays. At first they thought I was constipated but the pain got worse. I told them I would kill myself if I was discharged. I meant it."

Tests revealed she was suffering from gallstones and her gall bladder had become attached to her bowel. During an operation, surgeons discovered internal scarring consistent with an infection. Mrs Tinsley now requires check-ups.

She added: "The MRSA had officially been cured but why did I have the internal scarring?"

Amanda Hallums, director of nursing at Basildon Hospital, said its MRSA rates were among the lowest in the country.

She said: "This patient's MRSA and her more recent operation are completely unrelated."

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