Six-year-old girl dies after being twice sent home from Sydney Children's Hospital
The girl was taken to the emergency department on Monday, where she was clinically assessed and discharged, according to a spokesperson for the Sydney Children's Hospitals Network (SCHN).
Her family brought her back to the hospital a short time later, where she was diagnosed with influenza and again discharged, after being offered "at-home guidance," according to the statement.
The girl was later admitted to Northern Beaches Hospital, where she died on Tuesday, police confirmed.
The kindergarten student has been described as a "bright, vivacious, kind and free-spirited" by St Luke's Grammar School principal Geoff Lancaster.
Mr Lancaster told the ABC the girl was "so full of light and joy, and adored by her parents, teachers and the many friends she had at St Luke's".
In an email informing the Dee Why school community of her death on Tuesday night, Mr Lancaster said, "No words can express the heartbreak [the parents] are experiencing. As a school community, we share their grief and pray [they] would know the love and support of family and friends."
School families were offered counselling and grief resources at a meeting on Wednesday morning.
One parent, who has a child in the same year, told the ABC she was distraught and angry.
"A child should not die from a common flu after being told to go home and rest.
"We were all crying at the meeting. It's a really huge shock… she was a very popular little girl," the parent said.
A spokesperson for SCHN said it "expresses our deepest condolences to the family for the loss of their child".
"SCHN is progressing an initial review into the patient's care while at the hospital."
A spokesperson for Northern Beaches Hospital said: "Alongside Sydney Children's Hospital Network, where the child received care earlier in the day, we will undertake the appropriate investigations in line with NSW Health policy, including a joint independent review. A coronial inquest has also been called into the child's passing."
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park described the death as "devastating" and said he intended to "understand how and why this tragedy has occurred, and the parents deserve answers".
"I'm also mindful how distressing these events are for staff, and I know they'll be impacted by this tragedy," Mr Park said.
The matter has been referred to the coroner and will be the subject of a joint Serious Adverse Event Review (SAER), which is used to investigate serious clinical incidents.
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