Death of young Edinburgh patient who suffered fatal cardiac arrest to be probed
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A heartbroken family are blaming both an Edinburgh and Glasgow hospital for 'negligence' following the death of a ten-year-old girl.
Maggie Canning, 40, is claiming negligence by staff at Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Children and Young People as well as Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children. Her daughter was sent home a day before suffering a fatal cardiac arrest.
It comes after her daughter Helen, 10, spent time in both hospitals receiving treatment for Rett Syndrome - a rare genetic neurological and development disorder which affects the way the brain develops and causes a progressive loss and motor skills and language.
Helen died on March 29 after her heartbroken mum gave permission for her life support to be switched off. The death is now being probed by the procurator fiscal, reports the Record.
Helen could only say the occasional word and couldn't talk. On March 13 she underwent surgery in Edinburgh to straighten her spine and pelvis after developing scoliosis.
According to her aunt, Jane Hillhouse, 42, they were told if it didn't go ahead her organs could suffer. Afterwards, Helen was in pain and vomiting a black mucus.
(Image: Daily Record)
Jane said: "The wean was in agony but a few days after her surgery she was being put into her wheelchair.
"It felt like they were torturing her. Maggie was trying to calm her down but was told to leave her. She brought her home on March 21.
"There was talk of keeping her in hospital because she was bringing up her milk but Rett's children do that a lot."
For the next two days Helen seemed "perfect" but on March 24 began to bring up black mucus again. Jane and Maggie, from the east end of Glasgow, took her to A&E at the Royal Hospital for Children.
One medic wanted to keep her in overnight, but she was sent home by another doctor at 2am. Jane said: "She was still bringing up black mucus but we were told she just had a virus."
The next day was "a blur". Jane said: "When we went into her room, her lips were blue. She was really white and not responding. We thought it was a seizure but then realised she wasn't breathing.
"We dialled 999. They told us to get her out her chair and start CPR. I did it until the ambulance crews arrived.
"They managed to get her heart beating again then took her to hospital. The police came because it was a child and drove Maggie and I to hospital.
"We were told Helen had a cardiac arrest. We heard staff say she had aspirated. We think the black mucus must have got into her lungs. She was transferred to intensive care and they said call family members. They didn't know if she would get through the night."
Close family came to say goodbye but the machines kept Helen alive for another 72 hours.
Jane said: "Every time Maggie looked at Helen her heart would break. She had pains in her heart."
On March 29, Maggie gave her permission to turn off the machines. Jane said: "Maggie was lying on the bed, kissing and cuddling her and I was holding her wee hands. She just passed away in her mammy's arms."
The post-mortem said she died from a cardiac arrest but investigations are ongoing. Samples of mucus and the contents of her lungs are being examined and police have seized hospital records.
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A letter from the procurator fiscal told Maggie they were awaiting more information from the post-mortem, which could take a few months.
Jane said: "We were told A&E staff felt terrible but if they gave a toss when we were there they wouldn't have sent her home and we wouldn't be here now. We blame both of the hospitals for Helen's death.
"Before the scoliosis operation she was healthy. Then she was sent home from the sick kids hospital in Glasgow when there was clearly something wrong. She had a rare illness and just had a scoliosis operation. How many red flags do you need? We are angry.
"Maggie is lost without her. We just don't want this to happen to anyone else's weans."
Morag Gardner, of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: "We send our deepest condolences to the family of Helen Canning. This case is being taken forward as a Significant Adverse Event Report (SAER). The family will be fully involved in this review."
Dr Edward Doyle, deputy medical director, NHS Lothian, said: "We are unable to comment on individual cases without consent but express our sincere condolences to the family."
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