Meningitis undetected in baby
Wendy was sixteen days old when she began showing signs of discomfort and constipation. Her mother, Lara, took her to see their GP who advised that Wendy should be taken to the local hospital if her symptoms got any worse.
Wendy’s condition deteriorated and she began having difficulty breathing and so she was taken to the hospital. However, Wendy’s symptoms were merely put down to constipation without staff carrying out any obvious checks of her heart rate, blood pressure or neurological examinations.
Wendy was discharged but her symptoms continued and, as Lara was still concerned, she took her to a different hospital for a second opinion. After an examination, Wendy was admitted and diagnosed with meningitis, however, she rapidly deteriorated and died shortly after.
Lara made a claim against the local NHS Trust and, with representation from medical negligence solicitor, Mandy Luckman, received over £30,000 in damages.