Latest news with #Spaull
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Baby not given antibiotics 'until after cardiac arrest'
A baby suffering with a respiratory illness was not given prescribed antibiotics until after he suffered the first of two cardiac arrests, an inquest heard. Ben Condon, who was born prematurely, was two months old when he died at Bristol Children's Hospital in April 2015. He was being treated in the intensive care unit for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and metapneumovirus (hMPV), which are similar to the common cold in adults. University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust has previously admitted a failure to give Ben antibiotics sooner contributed to his death. A previous inquest recorded Ben's death as being caused by ARDS, hMPV and prematurity, but this was quashed by the High Court after new evidence emerged. Ben's parents, Allyn and Jenny Condon, from Weston-super-Mare, fought hard for a second inquest which is under way at Avon Coroner's Court. The inquest heard Ben had developed a pseudomonas bacterial infection before his condition deteriorated and he died having suffered two cardiac arrests. Mr Condon previously claimed doctors "intentionally" did not disclose his son had the infection until after he was cremated. On Thursday, a junior doctor on the unit told the court she did not return to Ben with antibiotics after another patient needed urgent attention. Dr Jessica Spaull told the inquest she could not recall a conversation with a consultant about giving Ben antibiotics, other than it would be "reasonable to start". "I recall I was in the process of doing that [writing up the prescription] when another of my allocated patients… when their endocrinal tube was accidentally removed," she said. "I recall I went over to that bed in an emergency, and I recall that I was involved re-intubating that patient. "That meant I had not completed that prescription at that point." She realised the prescription had not been administered while completing a handover for the evening shift. "I recall looking at the drug chart and realising that the antibiotic prescribed earlier hadn't been given," she said. Jennifer MacLeod, representing the Condon family, asked Dr Spaull whether there was a "general consensus" among doctors that Ben's respiratory illness was caused by a virus, rather than a bacterial infection. Dr Spaull said in response she did not "and still does not have the expertise to have formulated ideas about ARDS causality" because of a lack of experience in that area. Ms MacLeod asked whether there was a "level of complacency" about how poorly Ben was. Dr Spaull said the question was hard for her to answer, because at the time she was a junior doctor and was only five weeks into her first placement on a paediatric intensive care unit. The inquest continues. Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Baby death detail 'kept back until after cremation' Mum tried to take own life after baby son's death Operator failed to send ambulance to baby, inquest hears HM Courts & Tribunals Service
The Independent
06-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Doctor describes delay in giving sick baby antibiotics, inquest hears
Antibiotics prescribed for a premature baby suffering with a respiratory illness were not given until after he suffered the first of two cardiac arrests, an inquest heard. Ben Condon, who was two months old, died at Bristol Children's Hospital in April 2015. He was being treated in the paediatric intensive care unit for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and metapneumovirus (hMPV) – similar to the common cold in adults. Avon Coroner's Court heard that on April 17 Ben's condition deteriorated and he suffered two cardiac arrests before dying. It later emerged that before his death, Ben had also developed a pseudomonas bacterial infection. The University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the children's hospital, later admitted their failure to give Ben timely antibiotics contributed to his death. Dr Jessica Spaull, who was a junior doctor on the unit, said she had been concerned about Ben that morning and had discussed this with his parents, Allyn and Jenny Condon. She told the inquest she had a conversation with a consultant after the mid-morning ward round to give Ben antibiotics. 'I cannot recall any details of what I said but I recall the conclusion was that it would be reasonable to start Ben on antibiotics,' she said. 'I recall I was in the process of doing that (writing up the prescription) when another of my allocated patients… when their endocrinal tube was accidentally removed. 'I recall I went over to that bed in an emergency, and I recall that I was involved reintubating that patient. 'That meant I had not completed that prescription at that point.' The inquest has heard that Ben, from Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, suffered the first of two cardiac arrests that afternoon and died later that evening. Dr Spaull told the hearing that later that day while completing a handover with the medical staff working the evening shift, she realised the antibiotics had not been administered. 'I recall looking at the drug chart and realising that the antibiotic prescribed earlier hadn't been given,' she said. 'I mentioned this to one of the bedside nurses who had attempted help with the resuscitation. 'I recall mentioning to one of the other junior doctors.' Jennifer MacLeod, representing the Condon family, asked Dr Spaull whether there was a 'general consensus' among doctors that Ben's respiratory illness was caused by a virus, rather than a bacterial infection. Dr Spaull replied: 'I think this is a really tricky question to answer for me just because, as a junior doctor on paediatric intensive care unit then, I still don't have the expertise to have formulated ideas about ARDS causality because of my lack of experience in that area.' Ms MacLeod asked whether there was a 'level of complacency' about how poorly Ben was. Dr Spaull said this question was hard for her to answer as at the time she was a junior doctor only five weeks into her first placement on a paediatric intensive care unit. 'For me, I had heard Ben's parents were worried, and I was worried about Ben's oxygenation in particular that morning,' she said. 'I think I would have judged how worried to be based on the experienced team's assessment. 'I do not think I can comment on the specific question.' She added: 'I think that while I was not experienced in ARDS, I was able to make an assessment of a patient in intensive care as that was what I had been doing for the past five weeks, but also on a neo-natal intensive care unit prior to that. 'I recall having dialogue about my patients that I was concerned was. 'I think I would have made an assessment, which would have been appropriate for a junior doctor on the unit to make, and I think I would have discussed that assessment with a consultant in an open dialogue because they were present. 'In terms of specifics I can't recall those conversations.' The inquest continues.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Doctor describes delay in giving sick baby antibiotics, inquest hears
Antibiotics prescribed for a premature baby suffering with a respiratory illness were not given until after he suffered the first of two cardiac arrests, an inquest heard. Ben Condon, who was two months old, died at Bristol Children's Hospital in April 2015. He was being treated in the paediatric intensive care unit for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and metapneumovirus (hMPV) – similar to the common cold in adults. Avon Coroner's Court heard that on April 17 Ben's condition deteriorated and he suffered two cardiac arrests before dying. It later emerged that before his death, Ben had also developed a pseudomonas bacterial infection. The University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the children's hospital, later admitted their failure to give Ben timely antibiotics contributed to his death. Dr Jessica Spaull, who was a junior doctor on the unit, said she had been concerned about Ben that morning and had discussed this with his parents, Allyn and Jenny Condon. She told the inquest she had a conversation with a consultant after the mid-morning ward round to give Ben antibiotics. 'I cannot recall any details of what I said but I recall the conclusion was that it would be reasonable to start Ben on antibiotics,' she said. 'I recall I was in the process of doing that (writing up the prescription) when another of my allocated patients… when their endocrinal tube was accidentally removed. 'I recall I went over to that bed in an emergency, and I recall that I was involved reintubating that patient. 'That meant I had not completed that prescription at that point.' The inquest has heard that Ben, from Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset, suffered the first of two cardiac arrests that afternoon and died later that evening. Dr Spaull told the hearing that later that day while completing a handover with the medical staff working the evening shift, she realised the antibiotics had not been administered. 'I recall looking at the drug chart and realising that the antibiotic prescribed earlier hadn't been given,' she said. 'I mentioned this to one of the bedside nurses who had attempted help with the resuscitation. 'I recall mentioning to one of the other junior doctors.' Jennifer MacLeod, representing the Condon family, asked Dr Spaull whether there was a 'general consensus' among doctors that Ben's respiratory illness was caused by a virus, rather than a bacterial infection. Dr Spaull replied: 'I think this is a really tricky question to answer for me just because, as a junior doctor on paediatric intensive care unit then, I still don't have the expertise to have formulated ideas about ARDS causality because of my lack of experience in that area.' Ms MacLeod asked whether there was a 'level of complacency' about how poorly Ben was. Dr Spaull said this question was hard for her to answer as at the time she was a junior doctor only five weeks into her first placement on a paediatric intensive care unit. 'For me, I had heard Ben's parents were worried, and I was worried about Ben's oxygenation in particular that morning,' she said. 'I think I would have judged how worried to be based on the experienced team's assessment. 'I do not think I can comment on the specific question.' She added: 'I think that while I was not experienced in ARDS, I was able to make an assessment of a patient in intensive care as that was what I had been doing for the past five weeks, but also on a neo-natal intensive care unit prior to that. 'I recall having dialogue about my patients that I was concerned was. 'I think I would have made an assessment, which would have been appropriate for a junior doctor on the unit to make, and I think I would have discussed that assessment with a consultant in an open dialogue because they were present. 'In terms of specifics I can't recall those conversations.' The inquest continues.
