Miss K complained that the Trust failed to investigate her daughter J's symptoms, and this led to a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of her epilepsy. Miss K said that J was only diagnosed and treated 11 months later at another hospital.
What happened
J saw a consultant at the Trust in late 2008.
He noted that J had been having 'fits' and made an appointment to see her four months later.
The consultant saw J again in the spring of the next year. Test results showed that J had epilepsy but the consultant did not tell Miss K about the diagnosis, investigate the cause of J's epilepsy, refer her for further assessment, or treat her. Miss K only discovered her daughter had epilepsy when she saw doctors at another hospital later in the year. J immediately received treatment. No cause has yet been found for her epilepsy.
What we found
The consultant failed to carry out timely investigations into J's symptoms. When he carried out the investigations (which showed J had epilepsy), he failed to treat her, arrange a scan to identify the cause of her epilepsy, or refer her to a child development centre for assessment. While the consultant explained that J's parents told him not to start treatment, we found no evidence that any such conversation took place. Furthermore, the consultant should have explained to Miss K the importance of her daughter having a scan.
He did not. We found that in the short term (up to 12 months), J's development was affected by the delay in treatment. However, her ongoing development issues are most probably caused by the underlying cause of her epilepsy, not the errors of the Trust.
Putting it right
The Trust has apologised to Miss K, and has paid her £1,000. The consultant agreed to share what he has learnt from this case with his colleagues at the Trust, and Miss K.
Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust
Essex
Came to an unsound decision
Apology
Compensation for non-financial loss
Recommendation to learn lessons or draw up an action plan