5-year-old Kaysiah Williams passed away days after her GP diagnosed her with a stomach bug
The little girl woke up one day screaming in pain. She was had vomited twice, struggling to breathe, and was also cold.
Her mom, who was pregnant at that time, contacted emergency services. The call handler referred her to the NHS 111 services and she was told it was not an emergency but that her daughter should be brought to the hospital.
Kaysia passed away over an hour after she arrived at Evelina Children’s Hospital. She died of myocarditis, inflammation of the heart, and a strep infection.
Her grandmother was furious as the ambulance didn’t arrive to take her to hospital.
But according to the coroner, the 999 call handler had dealt with the call ‘appropriately based on the information.’
However, they also noted how parents were not asked if they could take their child to hospital and the operator should’ve sent an ambulance.
“Luckily her father was home [when Kaysiah’s mother rang 999],” said her grandmother, Winsome. “[But if other parents don’t] have a car, how are they supposed to get to St Thomas’ Hospital? You have to take public transport or call a cab.”
They had to battle traffic on the road. Kaysiah suffered a cardiac arrest when she arrived at the hospital.
Coroner Caroline Cross said it was possible the girl may have had mesenteric lymphadenitis, which can cause stomach ache. She told the inquest that the 111 service operator “should have sent a category two ambulance.”
But she ruled that there was “no evidence to suggest a different outcome” had that happened. The treatment Kaysiah received at the hospital was also “appropriate.”
Kaysiah visited her GP after she first experienced stomach pain, only four days before she died. The doctor examined her abdomen and diagnosed the girl with viral gastroenteritis, which can cause stomach pain and vomiting.
Rest in peace, Kaysiah!
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this post with your family and friends!