Nurse found guilty of unlawful killing after giving patient wrong blood type

A nurse who gave a patient who later died the wrong type of blood has been convicted of unlawful killing by gross negligence.

Lea Ledesma made a series of mistakes which led to Ali Huseyin, 76, being given type AB blood during a transfusion even though he was blood group O.

The 49-year-old nurse at London Heart Hospital was found guilty on Wednesday following a trial at Southwark Crown Court, the Met Police said.

Mr Huseyin had been in the care of Ledesma after a successful heart bypass operation in May 2014.

He died the next evening after a number of errors on Ledesma's part saw her choose the wrong blood from a vending style machine when the patient required a blood transfusion, and go on to check it against the wrong computer records.

Ledesma initially tried to pass off the error as being a colleague's mistake and only when questioned further did she admit to being distracted and flustered when checking the patient details, police said.

The nurse, of Stevenage in Hertfordshire, is due to be sentenced on February 9 next year.

Detective Chief Inspector Graeme Gwyn, of the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "This was a difficult and tragic case for all involved.

"Our sympathies continue to remain with the family of Ali Huseyin and I hope today's verdict will bring some comfort after what has been an incredibly difficult time for them."