THE grieving son of a blind Horwich woman who died after suffering an allergic reaction to penicillin - prescribed by a dentist - is demanding a public inquiry. Ian Worsley, aged 33, is writing to Health Minister Frank Dobson calling for a top level probe into her death. Mother of five, Mary Elaine Bothamley, aged 57, died in hospital 12 days after being given the drug while receiving treatment at her local dentist's surgery.

The BEN revealed last month that Mrs Bothamley, who lived in a maisonette on the outskirts of Horwich town centre, is believed to have been prescribed the penicillin after she told the dentist that she was not allergic to the drug.

Her death stunned her four sons and daughter who only discovered their mother had died after reading her obituary in the Evening News.

And today, three weeks after her death, Mrs Bothamley's son, Ian, a fire protection engineer, said the family still cannot come to terms with her death.

Mystified

"How can we do?" said Mr Worsley. "We're mystified by why she died. It makes no sense whatsoever.

"How can it be that a middle aged woman lived to such an age without knowing she was allergic to penicillin?"

Mrs Bothamley is believed to have realised she was unwell the day after receiving dental treatment. She visited her doctor after being told that she had developed a rash and was then prescribed antibiotics.

When she returned to her doctor the next day, though, Mrs Bothamley was taken into hospital. She died in the intensive care unit of the Royal Bolton Hospital on September 2.

Her son Mr Worsley is now calling on the Health Minister to investigate her death, on behalf of his family.

He said: "We don't want to blame anyone but equally we are determined it will not be swept under the carpet.

"In my view my mother was perfectly fit and healthy, she should not have died.

"My family want to establish exactly what happened to prevent a similar tragedy happening again."

He added: "We're told that penicillin is a safe drug, but it can't be that safe if it caused my mother's death."

Speaking to the BEN days after Mrs Bothamley's death Bolton's dental health advisor, Mr Colwyn Jones, stressed that patients need have no fears if they are prescribed penicillin.

"Penicillin is one of the most efficient antibiotics we have," said Mr Jones. "It is very safe for people who are not allergic to it and the first choice of drugs dentists and doctors will use."

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