NICKY Hillier had been suffering from a fever for days and called 111 after being unable to get a GP appointment – they told her to take paracetamol but family found her unconscious the next day.
The HR worker, 50, was rushed to hospital where doctors confirmed she had bacterial .
Nicky Hillier called NHS 111 after suffering from a fever and cold-like symptoms for several days and being unable to get a GP appointment Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
She was told to take paracetamol to relieve symptoms, but was found unconscious the next day and ended up in a coma after doctors confirmed she had meningitis Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
Nicky, from , was put on life support and spent two days in a coma.
When she awoke, she discovered that she had lost her hearing, struggled with her mobility and was unable to work.
Nicky’s sister, Amanda Hall, said: “Seeing her like that was possibly the very worst thing I have ever, ever been through and I think it would take a lot to top that.
“We were told to prepare ourselves, that she was gravely, gravely ill and if she made the night, it would be a miracle.”
Pictured with her sister Amanda, left, Nicky was in a coma for two days and when she woke up she realised she had lost her hearing Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
Nicky now also struggles to walk and communicate and her family have started a GoFundMe page to help her with recovery Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media
Nicky initially believed she had a cold in March 2026 and cancelled her Friday night plans to avoid passing it on to others.
Days later, however, she only felt worse and decided to stay off work as she thought she had .
After five days of having a fever, Nicky was struggling to get out of bed so she called 111 when she failed to get a doctor’s appointment.
Amanda said: “She was just feeling the general ‘I’ve got a bit of a , I’ve got a cold I don’t want to spread it around’, which was about a week before she became very ill.
“She had rung 111 and said ‘I can’t get a doctor’s appointment, I’m feeling really poorly, I’ve had a for five days and I’m sweating so much that I’m having to change my pyjamas every couple of hours’.
“[She also said] ‘I can’t get out of bed, I’ve got a bad and I’ve been sick and I’ve got a cough’.”
According to Amanda, Nicky was allegedly advised by 111 to take paracetamol to relieve her symptoms.
But the next morning, Nicky’s neighbour noticed her curtains were still closed and thought something might be wrong.
Nicky’s sister said: “Her neighbour was past at around 7am and noticed that my sister’s curtains were drawn and that isn’t like her, she’s up early with the dog.
“In the meantime, my sister’s boss thought ‘I haven’t heard from Nicky, she usually checks in even when she’s not well’ so went to HR and asked for her next of kin contact, which was her ex-husband.
“The ex got over the gate at the back of the house, got into the house and found her collapsed in a very, very poor state.”
Nicky was found unconscious on the floor and “barely breathing”.
At hospital, doctors confirmed the bacteria in Nicky’s system was streptococcus pneumoniae, which had gone from her spinal cord to her brain triggering .
Amanda claims doctors believe Nicky’s meningitis bacteria was different from the cases in the earlier this year.
is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
It can be very serious if not treated quickly and can cause life-threatening , sometimes resulting in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
Symptoms of meningitis include having a fever and headache, being sick, having a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it and having a stiff neck.
Most people with bacterial meningitis who are treated quickly will make a full recovery, although some are left with serious long-term problems.
These can include hearing or vision loss, co-ordination, movement and balance problems and problems with memory and concentration.
Nicky was brought out of a coma after two days, but sadly she is now deaf, has – a temporary weakness or lack of movement that usually affects one side of the face – and struggles with her mobility and communication.
Nicky was discovered unconscious in her house after her neighbour drove by, saw her curtains were closed and went to check on her Credit: Kennedy Newsand Media What is meningitis?
It can be mistaken as the flu or even a hangover – but knowing the symptoms of potentially deadly meningitis could save your life.
It is the inflammation of the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord and can be caused by
If it is not treated quickly, meningitis can cause life-threatening septicaemia (blood poisoning) and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
The two forms of the disease have different symptoms.
Around 3,200 people a year get bacterial meningitis.
Viral forms of meningitis are less common and rarely life-threatening, but can have lifelong effects.
Infections peak during winter when bugs spread more easily in confined spaces.
Meningitis is usually passed on from people who carry the virus or bacterial form in their throat or nose, but aren’t ill themselves.
It can be spread through kissing, sneezing, coughing and sharing household items such as toothbrushes or cutlery.
It is thought that the bacteria are able to invade the body more easily via the nose and throat during winter due to recent infection with flu virus.
The illness can be caught from someone who is ill with meningitis but this is more rare.
The symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and include:
- A high fever over 37.5 degrees – the average human temperature
- being sick
- a headache
- a blotchy rash that doesn’t fade when a glass is rolled over it
- stiffness, especially in the neck
- sensitivity to bright lights
- drowsiness, irritability or lack of energy
- cold hands and feet
- seizures
Speaking about Nicky’s condition, Amanda said: “It’s very odd seeing somebody that you adore in that condition.
“She said to her nurse within a day or two that she couldn’t hear and something was wrong with her ears.
“She could speak a few words, not a coherent sentence, but enough to know that she was there.
“Her mobility isn’t particularly good at the moment, she’s having to use a frame. She can’t walk unaided.”
Amanda continued: “She’s very aware of getting her face on every day and doing her , it’s important to her to feel good and that’s great.
“She’s basically living in her bedroom at the moment. She’s not really living life at the moment, she’s getting through it.
“It’s just been awful for everybody, it’s just been absolutely shocking.”
Nicky’s family and friends have now set up a GoFundMe to support her in her recovery.
Speaking about the experience, Amanda said: “If you have been as ill as my sister was for that many days and you’ve reached out to 111 and they tell you to go get some paracetamol I would absolutely throw that advice in the bin.
“Like with my sister, it changed so quickly from her being able to communicate. She should’ve been seen.”
A spokesperson for Practice Plus Group said: “We are sorry to hear of this patient’s illness and encourage her family to raise their concerns with us directly, so that we can the 111 call in line with our strict quality governance procedures.”
has also approached Practice Plus Group for comment.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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