'Mum's death in Essex from legionnaires' disease was avoidable'
The daughters of a 91-year-old woman who died from Legionnaires' disease at a care home are calling for stricter safety regulations. They argue the death was preventable and emphasize the need for better water system checks in residential facilities.
Why it matters
Raises critical questions about patient safety standards and regulatory oversight in elderly care facilities.
Image source, Family handout Image caption, Rhoda Freedman and her daughters Irma Harmsworth (left) and Aileen Pearl
The daughters of a 91-year-old woman who died after contracting Legionnaires' disease at her care home have called for more rigorous checks in residential facilities for the bacteria because her death "could have been avoided".
Rhoda Freedman, from Ilford, London, moved to live in Wensley House Care Home in Epping, Essex, in 2023 and died at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow on 18 May 2024.
Legionnaires' disease is a serious lung infection transmitted by inhaling droplets of infected water.
Rhoda's daughters, Aileen Pearl and Irma Harmsworth, said they were "shocked" and "disappointed" by their mum's death as it was "totally preventable".
Harmsworth, a retired admin worker who lives in Billericay, Essex, said her mum had chosen to move into a care home after her legs began giving way.
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