Latest news with #Torpoint
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Missed chances to prevent boy's sepsis death
Missed opportunities to provide earlier care contributed to the death of a three-year-old boy, an inquest jury has concluded. Theo Tuikubulau died from a Strep A infection which led to sepsis, the jury at County Hall in Exeter concluded. Kayleigh Kenneford called 111 on the evening of 7 July, 2022, because her son was unwell, but the inquest heard ambulance crews took 90 minutes to reach Theo's home in Torpoint, Cornwall, due to the grading given to the call. He died in the early hours the next day. The jury heard Theo would not have had a cardiac arrest and would not have died if he had arrived at hospital sooner. Ms Kenneford told the inquest Theo was a "happy, loving and affectionate little boy" who was obsessed with buses and fire engines and loved being at nursery. The 10-person jury concluded delays in ambulances, ambulance call categorisations and a 72-hour hotline to the hospital's child assessment unit all contributed to his death. The jury concluded there were "missed opportunities" in his early care. Before Ms Kenneford made the 111 call on 7 July, Theo had already been admitted and discharged from Plymouth's Derriford Hospital the previous day with a suspected upper respiratory infection, the inquest heard. For the previous 36 hours before the call, Theo had been gradually getting sicker with a high temperature, flu-like symptoms, breathing difficulties and was reluctant to drink or eat, the hearing was told. At 21:47 BST on July 7, Ms Kenneford rang a 72-hour hotline to the child assessment unit at the hospital where Theo had been earlier and spoke to a nurse who suggested she give Theo some sugary drinks. A recorded 111 call heard Theo "grunting" as he breathed and the inquest was told Ms Kenneford made a series of other 111 calls the night before making a 999 call. A category one response was made following the 999 call and Theo was taken back to Derriford Hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest. He died a short time later as his parents held his hands. Consultant paediatrician Dr Andy Robinson told the inquest jury Theo did not have sepsis when he assessed him two days prior to his death. The inquest heard he would have got to hospital earlier had a 111 operator graded his call as life-threatening. Darryn Allcorn, chief nurse and director of integrated professions at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said after the inquest the "early identification of sepsis in children be challenging, even for very experienced healthcare staff". "Whilst NICE [National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] guidance and all relevant procedures were followed including Theo being examined carefully, he was diagnosed with a viral infection and thought well enough to return home," he said. "He deteriorated quickly afterwards. "Our staff are committed to always considering sepsis as a possible diagnosis in any child who presents as unwell with a fever. "We continue to give our heartfelt condolences to Theo's family and will continue to offer them our support." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Boy could have reached hospital sooner - inquest Mum of boy who died of sepsis felt 'fobbed off' Boy had no sepsis days before death, says doctor HM Courts & Tribunals
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Missed chances to prevent boy's sepsis death, inquest jury finds
Missed opportunities to provide earlier care contributed to the death of a three-year-old boy, an inquest jury has Tuikubulau died from a Strep A infection which led to sepsis, the jury at County Hall in Exeter Kenneford called 111 on the evening of 7 July, 2022, because her son was unwell, but the inquest heard ambulance crews took 90 minutes to reach Theo's home in Torpoint, Cornwall, due to the grading given to the call. He died in the early hours the next jury heard Theo would not have had a cardiac arrest and would not have died if he had arrived at hospital sooner. Ms Kenneford told the inquest Theo was a "happy, loving and affectionate little boy" who was obsessed with buses and fire engines and loved being at 10-person jury concluded delays in ambulances, ambulance call categorisations and a 72-hour hotline to the hospital's child assessment unit all contributed to his jury concluded there were "missed opportunities" in his early Ms Kenneford made the 111 call on 7 July, Theo had already been admitted and discharged from Plymouth's Derriford Hospital the previous day with a suspected upper respiratory infection, the inquest heard. Quickly deteriorated For the previous 36 hours before the call, Theo had been gradually getting sicker with a high temperature, flu-like symptoms, breathing difficulties and was reluctant to drink or eat, the hearing was 21:47 BST on July 7, Ms Kenneford rang a 72-hour hotline to the child assessment unit at the hospital where Theo had been earlier and spoke to a nurse who suggested she give Theo some sugary drinks.A recorded 111 call heard Theo "grunting" as he inquest heard Ms Kenneford made a series of 111 calls the night before making a 999 call.A category one response was made following the 999 call and Theo was taken back to Derriford Hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest. He died a short time later as his parents held his hands. Early identification challenging Consultant paediatrician Dr Andy Robinson told the inquest jury Theo did not have sepsis when he assessed him two days prior to his inquest heard he would have got to hospital earlier had a 111 operator graded his call as life-threatening. Darryn Allcorn, chief nurse and director of integrated professions at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said the "early identification of sepsis in children be challenging, even for very experienced healthcare staff". "Whilst NICE [National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] guidance and all relevant procedures were followed including Theo being examined carefully, he was diagnosed with a viral infection and thought well enough to return home," he said."He deteriorated quickly afterwards."Our staff are committed to always considering sepsis as a possible diagnosis in any child who presents as unwell with a fever."We continue to give our heartfelt condolences to Theo's family and will continue to offer them our support."
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Boy with sepsis could have reached hospital sooner, inquest told
A child critically ill with sepsis would have arrived earlier at hospital had a 111 operator graded his call as life-threatening, an inquest has Kenneford called 111 on the evening of 7 July, 2022 because her three-year-old son Theo Tuikubulau was unwell, a jury at County Hall in Exeter was inquest heard ambulance crews took 90 minutes to reach Theo's home in Torpoint, Cornwall, due to the grading given to the jury was told Theo died the next day from sepsis, caused by an "invasive" Strep A infection. The inquest continues. Before Ms Kenneford made the 111 call on 7 July, Theo had already been admitted and discharged from Plymouth's Derriford Hospital the previous day with a suspected upper respiratory infection, the inquest the previous 36 hours before the call, Theo had been gradually getting sicker with a high temperature, flu-like symptoms, breathing difficulties and was reluctant to drink or eat, the hearing was Coroner's Court heard 999 calls to South West Ambulance Service Trust and the 111 service use different pathways for grading ambulance trust's Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System (AMPDS) graded Theo's breathing difficulties as a category one on 6 July, while the 111 service's NHS Pathway ranked similar symptoms as a category two the following day, the court meant crews took 90 minutes to reach Theo after Ms Kenneford first phoned for an ambulance shortly before 23:00 on 7 July. 'Hypotheticals' Theo was taken back to Derriford - arriving shortly after 01:00 BST - where he died a few hours Knight, head of emergency operations at South West Ambulance Service Trust, had reviewed the 111 call and was asked what would have happened if it had been made to the ambulance service instead."My belief is based on the trigger phrase that the patient was fighting for breath at the time, it would have triggered a cat one through the AMPDS system," he Knight told the hearing he was dealing with "hypotheticals" as to how quickly a category one ambulance that night would have reached added while it was "hard to commit to a time", it probably would have been a 30-minute wait. Louise Wiltshire, assistant coroner for Devon, asked Mr Knight about the evidence of Ms Kenneford, in which she said she was told by the 111 call handler an ambulance would not be Knight said paramedics are trained to not give people any indication of response added they would try to manage patient expectations and give clear instructions to call back if their condition added having reviewed documents relating to Theo's care that evening, the ambulance crew had recognised he was seriously unwell and had taken him straight to Derriford Knight said he felt the crew had made all the "appropriate and correct decisions". Andrew Morse, representing Theo's family, suggested if the call on 7 July had been assessed as a category one then he could have potentially arrived at the hospital by 23:45 BST."On balance, given the testimony I've already given to the coroner, I think that that's a reasonable assumption," Mr Knight ongoing inquest heard there was a paramedic crew who could have reached Theo within 33 minutes had his call been graded as category one.
Daily Mail
10-06-2025
- Daily Mail
First responder rushed to suspected suicide only to find the victim was his own son, inquest hears
A community first responder was called out to a suspected suicide near his home before discovering the victim was his son. Robert White senior was called out to an incident just 100 metres from his family home in Torpoint, Cornwall, one night last September. Upon arriving to the scene at 11.15pm, he realised the patient was his 29-year-old son Robert White junior. Police said Mr White senior was in 'work mode, calm and composed' despite him trying to save his son using lifesaving protocols. Cornwall Coroner's Court heard drink and drugs had become part of Robert junior's life and he was booted out of the Royal Engineers after failing a drugs test in 2021. He had lost his fabricating job a month before his death because of his drinking and he had downed alcohol and also had cocaine, amphetamine and diazepam in his system before his death. The coroner concluded Robert killed himself and intended to do so. His partner was seven months pregnant with their second child when he died. She also praised Mr White's bravery 'in the extraordinary circumstances in dealing with what you dealt with' on that night. Assistant Cornwall coroner Emma Hillson said Robert White senior was called out at 11.15pm and at the scene he realised the patient was his son The coroner heard that drink and drugs had become part of Robert Jnr's life and he was booted out of the Royal Engineers after failing a drugs test in 2021. The inquest heard Robert and his partner had discussed their financial issues after he lost his fabricating job a month before. A friend suggested Robert could claim more benefits if he said he was single. But Robert took that suggestion badly because he thought it was an attempt to split him up from his partner. The couple argued and Robert went out to clear his head. He was seen by people carrying an extension lead and later told a friend he had tried to hang himself. His body was found in a grassy area by some flats in Torpoint and sadly efforts to revive him failed.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- BBC News
Ferry moved into the water as refit nears completion
A ferry service said work on its vessel Lynher was continuing following a "significant milestone" in its refit process. Tamar Crossings said a period in dry dock in Falmouth had enabled work to be carried out on replacing systems and equipment on the prows and hull. It added the "out of water" inspections showed further essential work was required, which increased the time in the next stage of the work could only be completed with the vessel in the water, resulting in Lynher being moved to a berth alongside the dock. Rolls Royce While in the dry dock Lynher was repainted both above and below the Crossings said dry docking allowed inspections to be carried out by its team and regulators to ensure that the vessel would be safe for a further five years. Initial works also took place to replace the outdated computer control system, it said. The new control system, supplied by Rolls Royce, would need to be integrated with the ferry's existing equipment. Tamar Crossings added that the next stage of the complex work could only be completed with the vessel in the water. It said work on this phase was scheduled to begin on Thursday and would take two weeks to complete. It would then need to pass the Harbour Acceptance Testing before it could return to is expected to return to Torpoint in the middle of June, depending on weather and sea conditions, Tamar Crossings said. It added that a combination of bad weather at the start of the refit process and the impact of carrying out additional vital repairs meant Lynhers return to the water was later than originally planned. The service will continue being provided by the two remaining ferries, one leaving each side of the river every 15 minutes between 06:30 and 22:00 BST. There will also be a single half-hourly night service ferry from 22:00 to 06:30.
