A BABY boy was left brain damaged after bungling doctors misdiagnosed meningitis — dismissing his symptoms as a chest infection, it’s claimed.
The parents of 11-month-old Freddie O’Driscoll rushed him to hospital after he was vomiting, wheezing and was very lethargic.
SWNS:South West News Service
SWNS:South West News Service
Mum Rachel Henderson, 35, told doctors she feared her son may have meningitis.
She says she even pointed to a poster in A&E which warned parents about the devastating disease in babies but was told she was “overreacting”.
Freddie was diagnosed with a chest infection and gastroenteritis and Rachel and her partner Tyler O’Driscoll, 31, were told to take him home.
But hours later Rachel and Tyler, a carer, took their son back to hospital when his condition deteriorated and he was eventually diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.
One doctor said it couldn’t be meningitis because Freddie didn’t have a rash
Mum Rachel Henderson
Now Freddie’s parents, from Hockley, Tamworth, Staffs., are now taking legal action against the hospital after the little lad was left brain damaged.
Full-time-mum Rachel said: “Even when we took Freddie back to hospital it still seemed like we were going round in circles.
“One doctor said it couldn’t be meningitis because Freddie didn’t have a rash.
“Thankfully one doctor thought there was something sinister and arranged antibiotics and further investigations.
“If it wasn’t for that doctor Freddie may not be here today.”
What are the symptoms of meningitis?
Symptoms of meningitis can appear in any order. Some may not appear at all. In the early stages, there may not be a rash or the rash may fade on pressure.
They include:
- A high fever over 37.5 degrees – the average human temperature
- Being sick
- Headache
- 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
The classic rash associated with meningitis usually looks like small, red pinpricks at first.
But it will spread over the body and turn into red or purple blotches.
If you press the side of a glass firmly against the skin where the rash is and it does not fade, it is a sign of blood poisoning and you should get medical help immediately.
The Meningitis Research Foundation has warned the symptoms can easily be mistaken for a hangover.
The charity urged people to look out for the symptoms in family and friends during winter, when the illness is more prevalent.
Get medical help immediately if you’re concerned about yourself or your child.
Trust your instincts and do not wait until a rash develops.
Source: NHS
Rachel and Tyler, who also have another son Alfie, became concerned about Freddie when he started vomiting and went a grey colour on September 21, 2016.
They rushed him to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, West Mids., at 11pm where he was assessed by a nurse.
About two-and-a-half hours later he was examined by an A&E doctor but meningitis was not diagnosed.
‘DELAYS IN DIAGNOSIS LOST VITAL TREATMENT TIME’
At about 2.45am the following morning staff raised concerns that Freddie was about to exceed the four hour waiting time in A&E and wanted him transferred to a ward.
Just before 4am Freddie was transferred to a clinical assessment ward after Rachel requested a second opinion but he was discharged at around 6.30am.
Rachel and Freddie returned to hospital at 6.30pm because he had been vomiting continuously and appeared to become more lethargic.
He was given intravenous antibiotics at 12.45am on September 23 before being transferred to a different hospital after he underwent a lumbar puncture.
At 4.20pm that day the results confirmed he was suffering from meningitis and he was put into isolation.
Freddie has now returned home but has been left brain damaged and suffers from behavioural problems.
‘FREDDIE NOW FACES SO MANY CHALLENGES’
Rachel said: “We face so many challenges now following Freddie’s illness but despite this he is the most adorable little boy we could wish for.”
The couple complained to the hospital about Freddie’s treatment and a serious incident report revealed a catalogue of failings.
The report, published by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust which now runs the hospital, found there were delays in Freddie’s care.
The report stated there was a “failure to investigate for and make the diagnosis of meningitis” and that “the breakdown in the relationship between Freddie’s mother and the clinical staff meant that concerns about Freddie’s overall condition were not heard.”
Injury lawyers Irwin Mitchell are now investigating the hospital on behalf of the couple.
Lawyer Leanne Leighton, who is representing the family, said: “Freddie’s illness has had a profound effect on the family and it is not fully known what long-term impact Freddie’s illness will have on his future.
“Rachel and Tyler have a number of concerns about the care Freddie received and how they felt that their concerns were ignored.
“The Trust’s own report has identified issues regarding delays and how staff dealt with what was obviously an extremely distressing time for the family.
“It is vital that staff uphold the highest standard of professionalism at all times, listen to families and treat patients and their relatives with care and compassion.”
The Sun Online approached University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust for a comment.
SWNS:South West News Service
SWNS:South West News Service
SWNS:South West News Service
SWNS:South West News Service
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