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Scottish Sun
01-05-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
‘Beautiful' girl, 3, died hours after mum took her home from ‘third-world country' hospital on doctor's advice
The busy hospital waiting room was full of crying children MUM'S HEARTACHE 'Beautiful' girl, 3, died hours after mum took her home from 'third-world country' hospital on doctor's advice A TODDLER died hours after returning home from a busy hospital where doctors said she just had a "typical viral rash". Three-year-old Penny Stevens and her mother Jemma Graham were told she was probably suffering from a virus, but she actually had Strep A. 3 Three-year-old Penny Stevens died hours after returning home Credit: Solent 3 Little Penny is pictured with her brother Charlie Credit: Solent Jemma said the hospital was "chaos" and overwhelmingly busy, with a nurse comparing it to a "third world country". This came after an alert about the bacterial infection, causing floods of concerned parents to come in. A triage nurse and a doctor told Jemma her daughter likely had a virus, so she took "exhausted" Penny home, Portmouth News reported. But an inquest heard that Penny didn't get any better, and her worried mother phoned 999 the next morning. The ambulance took four hours to arrive, and the toddler sadly died when she got to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. Grieving mother Jemma told the Winchester inquest she will "die with regret" that she took Penny to the busy St Richard's Hospital. Penny had suffered with a cough and temperature for three days when her mother took her to hospital on December 3, 2022. Jemma said: "I have never seen a waiting room so busy and noisy that I was taken aback. The room got busier and and louder." Strep A symptoms Strep A is a type of bacteria and most infections are mild and easily treated - but some are much more serious. Common symptoms of strep A include: flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, swollen glands or an aching body sore throat (strep throat or tonsillitis) a rash that feels rough, like sandpaper (scarlet fever) scabs and sores (impetigo) pain and swelling (cellulitis) severe muscle aches nausea and vomiting Strep A infections are more common in children, but adults can also sometimes get them. Most strep A infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics. But rarely, the infection can cause serious problems. This is called invasive group A strep (iGAS). She said there was nowhere to sit and children were crying in their parents' arms. The nurse told her "the rash is just a typical viral rash". Jemma told the inquest she "can't forgive those that should have helped us". The nurse who saw Penny told the inquest of the "immense" pressure on staff that day. She said they were "utterly blindsided" by the sheer amount of patients. The nurse said this was due to a 'media alert' about Strep A which prompted 'worried' parents to visit. Dr Maggie Davies, the chief nurse at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are so sorry for the heartbreak suffered by Penny's family, and the terrible loss they have endured. "As the inquest has heard, December 2022 was an extraordinary period with unprecedented numbers of poorly children needing care. "We will give the coroner all the support we can throughout the inquest process, and continue to improve and strengthen patient care whenever we can." The inquest continues.
The Sun
01-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘Beautiful' girl, 3, died hours after mum took her home from ‘third-world country' hospital on doctor's advice
A TODDLER died hours after returning home from a busy hospital where doctors said she just had a "typical viral rash". Three-year-old Penny Stevens and her mother Jemma Graham were told she was probably suffering from a virus, but she actually had Strep A. 3 3 Jemma said the hospital was "chaos" and overwhelmingly busy, with a nurse comparing it to a "third world country". This came after an alert about the bacterial infection, causing floods of concerned parents to come in. A triage nurse and a doctor told Jemma her daughter likely had a virus, so she took "exhausted" Penny home, Portmouth News reported. But an inquest heard that Penny didn't get any better, and her worried mother phoned 999 the next morning. The ambulance took four hours to arrive, and the toddler sadly died when she got to Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth. Grieving mother Jemma told the Winchester inquest she will "die with regret" that she took Penny to the busy St Richard's Hospital. Penny had suffered with a cough and temperature for three days when her mother took her to hospital on December 3, 2022. Jemma said: " I have never seen a waiting room so busy and noisy that I was taken aback. The room got busier and and louder." Strep A symptoms Strep A is a type of bacteria and most infections are mild and easily treated - but some are much more serious. Common symptoms of strep A include: flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, swollen glands or an aching body sore throat (strep throat or tonsillitis) a rash that feels rough, like sandpaper (scarlet fever) scabs and sores (impetigo) pain and swelling (cellulitis) severe muscle aches nausea and vomiting Strep A infections are more common in children, but adults can also sometimes get them. Most strep A infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics. But rarely, the infection can cause serious problems. This is called invasive group A strep (iGAS). She said there was nowhere to sit and children were crying in their parents' arms. The nurse told her "the rash is just a typical viral rash". Jemma told the inquest she "can't forgive those that should have helped us". The nurse who saw Penny told the inquest of the"immense" pressure on staff that day. She said they were "utterly blindsided" by the sheer amount of patients. The nurse said this was due to a 'media alert' about Strep A which prompted 'worried' parents to visit. Dr Maggie Davies, the chief nurse at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are so sorry for the heartbreak suffered by Penny's family, and the terrible loss they have endured. "As the inquest has heard, December 2022 was an extraordinary period with unprecedented numbers of poorly children needing care. "We will give the coroner all the support we can throughout the inquest process, and continue to improve and strengthen patient care whenever we can." The inquest continues. 3
The Irish Sun
01-05-2025
- Health
- The Irish Sun
‘Beautiful' girl, 3, died hours after mum took her home from ‘third-world country' hospital on doctor's advice
A TODDLER died hours after returning home from a busy hospital where doctors said she just had a "typical viral rash". Three-year-old Penny Stevens and her mother Jemma Graham were told she was probably suffering from a virus, but she actually had Advertisement 3 Three-year-old Penny Stevens died hours after returning home Credit: Solent 3 Little Penny is pictured with her brother Charlie Credit: Solent Jemma said the hospital was "chaos" and This came after an alert about the bacterial infection, causing floods of concerned parents to come in. A triage nurse and a doctor told Jemma her daughter likely had a virus, so she took "exhausted" Penny home, But an inquest heard that Penny didn't get any better, and her worried mother phoned 999 the next morning. Advertisement The Grieving mother Jemma told the Winchester inquest she will "die with regret" that she took Penny to the busy St Richard's Hospital. Penny had suffered with a cough and temperature for three days when her mother took her to hospital on December 3, 2022. Jemma said: " Advertisement Most read in Health Strep A symptoms Strep A is a type of bacteria and most infections are mild and easily treated - but some are much more serious. Common symptoms of strep A include: flu-like symptoms, such as a high temperature, swollen glands or an aching body sore throat (strep throat or tonsillitis) a rash that feels rough, like sandpaper (scarlet fever) scabs and sores (impetigo) pain and swelling (cellulitis) severe muscle aches nausea and vomiting Strep A infections are more common in children, but adults can also sometimes get them. Most strep A infections are not serious and can be treated with antibiotics. But rarely, the infection can cause serious problems. This is called invasive group A strep (iGAS). She said there was nowhere to sit and children were crying in their parents' arms. The nurse told her "the rash is just a typical viral rash". Jemma told the inquest she "can't forgive those that should have helped us". The nurse who saw Penny told the inquest of the Advertisement She said they were "utterly blindsided" by the sheer amount of patients. The nurse said this was due to a 'media alert' about Strep A which prompted 'worried' parents to visit. Dr Maggie Davies, the chief nurse at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We are so sorry for the heartbreak suffered by Penny's family, and the terrible loss they have endured. "As the inquest has heard, December 2022 was an extraordinary period with unprecedented numbers of poorly children needing care. Advertisement Read more on the Irish Sun "We will give the coroner all the support we can throughout the inquest process, and continue to improve and strengthen patient care whenever we can." The inquest continues. 3 Doctors said Penny probably just had a virus Credit: Solent
Telegraph
02-04-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
NHS trust apologises after man died when it failed to treat tumour
An NHS trust has apologised after a man died when it failed to treat his tumour. Richard Harris, 71, died in July last year after errors by the Royal Sussex County Hospital 's neurosurgery department in Brighton, West Sussex. University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex), which runs the hospital, has admitted it failed to monitor or operate on a tumour in his nervous system despite doctors recommending this be done. An internal review of Harris's care found doctors had not arranged a routine MRI scan after he received an urgent referral in 2017. It was not until two years later, in 2019, that he had the scan after he contacted the neurology department himself. Harris was then diagnosed with a benign schwannoma tumour and recommended for twice-yearly monitoring and surgical intervention, The Guardian reported. But the surgery was not arranged and follow-up scans were postponed and cancelled. In 2024, Harris, a former massage therapist, was referred to the neurosurgery department again after experiencing acute pain. The review found there were further delays until his tumour was assessed as cancerous and inoperable. He was released to hospice care and died a few weeks later. 'Possible corporate manslaughter' Harris's family has been told his death was being investigated as possible corporate manslaughter along with 90 other deaths at the hospital's general surgery and neurosurgery departments, the newspaper reported. Sussex Police has launched Operation Bramber to investigate allegations of medical negligence in those departments between 2015 and 2020. The trust apologised to Harris before he died for its failure to arrange the follow-up scans in 2019. 'They seem to be expert at fobbing people off,' said his sister, Jane. 'The way they have treated us mirrors how Richard was treated. We are just so horrified by how Richard's life was cut short.' She added: 'Richard slipped through the net time and time again. It is the whole system there that is the problem. The more you read about his case, the more delays you see.' Katie Urch, the chief medical officer for UHSussex, said: 'Our heartfelt sympathies and apologies go to Richard Harris's family. We have conveyed this to them previously but hope to do so in person in the coming weeks. 'We know that they understandably still have many questions about Mr Harris's care. 'Regrettably, we cannot publicly discuss any of the details of this case at this time, but we will sincerely attempt to address any issues the family raise with us.'
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Mum with epileptic daughter raises £10k for life-changing machine
The mother of a girl with epilepsy has raised £10,000 to get life-changing equipment installed at the family's local hospital in West from Chichester, says an electroencephalogram (EEG) machine will dramatically improve care for patients like two-year-old Elodie, who was diagnosed with the condition last year. The 32-year-old is currently having to take her daughter over an hour away to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton to use the EEG said an extra machine, which is used for the detection and treatment of epilepsy, would "make a massive difference to everyone who has to travel long distances to get the help they need". The mother-of-three said Elodie's diagnosis was "terrifying"."She started making odd eye movements last September - it was like they were drooping," said Michaela, who was speaking to mark Wednesday's Purple Day 2025, a global initiative to raise awareness about epilepsy and support those living with the condition."After that the seizures started and Elodie went from being really spaced out and unaware. to her whole body turning rigid."She'd shake and then stop breathing." The EEG at Brighton revealed the problem and what treatment was required. Shortly after the diagnosis, she went back to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester for some procedures, said said: "The staff there were all brilliant and my girl's been seizure-free for months, although she still needs regular EEG monitoring to keep on top of things."Michaela recently set up a GoFundMe page and organised a raffle to raise the £10,000 needed for another EEG at St Richard's. EEGs are suitable for patients of all ages and can also be used to detect the early stages of Alzheimer's and the likelihood of recovery of those in a coma. "I can't believe I managed to raise all that money in just few weeks," said Michaela, adding that any extra cash will go towards items such as anti-suffocation pillows, alarms and monitors for those impacted by epilepsy. The University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust has been contacted for comment.
