Parents angry with doctor’s attitude following tragic death of their baby

Parents from Poole in Dorset have received an undisclosed amount in an out of court settlement from Poole Hospital Trust and a GP, following the tragic death of their baby daughter from Staphylococcus Aureus sepsis.  However, the couple still feel angry and upset that no lessons seem to have been learnt by the hospital or the GP following their daughter’s death.

13 month old Tia Ansell died on the 5^th November 2007 and her parents Duane and Samantha Ansell believe the attitude of the Triage Nurse at Poole Hospital and the advice of the GP Mr S Watkins at the out of hours Red Clinic surgery, meant that Tia did not receive urgent treatment which could have saved her life. 

Mrs Ansell had taken her daughter to the A&E department at Poole Hospital after Tia had been unwell for over 24 hours with a fever, diarrhoea and also breathing difficulties - to the point that Mrs Ansell had to intermittently blow into her mouth to help her breath.  Mrs Ansell had initially called NHS Direct to discuss the symptoms and they had advised that the condition was serious and suggested that Tia should be taken to A&E to be seen by a doctor.   

Following that advice, Mrs Ansell took her daughter to Poole Hospital A&E department.  In A&E Mrs Ansell was initially seen by a Triage Nurse who did not examine Tia and instead seemed angry that they had come to A&E at all.  He suggested that Mrs Ansell should take Tia to the Red Clinic - the out of hours GP Clinic next to the Hospital.  Mrs Ansell did so and was eventually seen by Doctor Watkins.  The Doctor did not appear to listen to Mrs Ansell’s concerns about her temperature, breathing difficulties or the fact she had hardly had any fluids that day.  The Doctor told Mrs Ansell that Tia was probably suffering from the same virus her other two daughters had had previously and that she should take her home.  He did not suggest any treatment or advise that Tia should be returned if Mrs Ansell had further concerns or her condition deteriorated.  Mrs Ansell was very upset as she felt both the Triage Nurse and Doctor had made her feel that she was completely wasting their time.

Tia did not improve over the next day and Mrs Ansell stayed up with Tia in her arms to try and comfort her.  She did not know where to turn as she felt she could not go back to hospital.  In the early hours of the 5^th November 2007, Mrs Ansell awoke to find Tia had stopped breathing.  Mr Ansell tried to resuscitate, as did the ambulance crew.  Tia was rushed to hospital but sadly there was nothing that could be done to save her.  Had Tia received intravenous antibiotics when she initially went to hospital on the 3^rd November 2007, then it is very likely she could have recovered.

Specialist Clinical Negligence Lawyers at Davies and Partners Solicitors are the Ansell’s Solicitors.  Partner Suzanne Williams said, “Our clients are naturally distraught at the loss of their daughter. Despite the hospital settling the claim against them they have never admitted fault and they have never apologised.  Mr and Mrs Ansell really want to know that those involved have learnt from this tragic case and that procedures have been put in place to ensure that in future a child is checked out thoroughly and that parents receive supportive advice rather than being made to feel like time wasters”

Since Tia’s death in 2007 Mrs Ansell has had to have Psychiatric support and her two daughters could not go to school for some time.  Mr Ansell was unable to go back to work full-time.  For almost two years Mrs Ansell constantly carried Tia’s teddy bear in her arms.
 

Mrs Ansell said, ”Tia’s death has had a huge impact on the whole family.  We were unable to cope with day-today-life for a very long time.  I have had counselling to try to help me come to terms with the fact that I awoke to find my daughter dead in my arms but I know I will never get over it.  We really just want to know that Tia’s death was not in vain and that the GP and Poole Hospital will now have systems in place which will ensure that any child showing similar  symptoms is properly checked by a doctor and that parents are made to feel they can come back to the hospital as many times as they need to if they are concerned.  If Tia had been diagnosed from the outset or I had been told to return if I was worried, she could be here today.”