Mrs D's baby was admitted with a repeated twitch. Although the Trust provided reasonable care and transferred her to a specialist unit appropriately, it did not arrange for a CT scan as quickly as it should have done.
What happened
Mrs D's baby was admitted to the Trust with a repeated twitch just after midnight. Other symptoms suggested the baby might have suffered a non accidental injury and social services were informed. Mrs D was also concerned about the way one of the doctors had spoken to her once the suspicion of a possible non accidental injury was raised.
Following a CT scan the following morning the baby was transferred to a specialist unit at another hospital, where she was diagnosed as having had a bleed to the brain (an aneurysm). This ruled out any possible non accidental injury.
What we found
We decided that while the Trust did provide reasonable care and treatment for the baby, it should have identified the need for the CT scan more quickly. This should have been carried out during the night, rather than left to the next morning. We found, however, that the delay in the CT scan did not affect the outcome for the baby, who fully recovered.
We decided there was not enough evidence to establish any failings in the way the doctor had spoken to Mrs D.
Putting it right
The Trust has apologised for not arranging the CT scan more quickly. We also said it should put an action plan in place to learn the lessons from the failings to make sure they did not happen again.
Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Staffordshire
Not applicable
Apology
Recommendation to learn lessons or draw up an action plan