Meningitis UK comment on Ipswich inquiry
09.04.10
HEALTH chiefs have apologised for failures in diagnosing two toddlers with meningitis who died within weeks of each other at the same hospital.
An investigation was launched after Rhianna Warner, two, and 11-month-old Ellie Parsons died at Ipswich Hospital after developing symptoms of the deadly disease.
Yesterday hospital chiefs met the children's parents to apologise, admitting that staff had failed to spot telltale signs of meningococcal septicaemia.
They said that while it could not be proved that earlier diagnosis would have saved their lives, staff had breached national guidelines in the way they treated the pair.
Peter Donaldson, medical director of Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust, said: "In both cases, there was a failure by staff at this hospital to pay sufficient attention to specific observations that could have given rise to a greater degree of suspicion that the children might be suffering from a more life-threatening infection.
"These were not the failings of individuals within the hospital so much as a failure of the hospital to ensure that the appropriate guidance for assessing children presenting with a fever was fully understood and followed.
"The onset of this form of septicaemia is often rapid after a mild start and it is often fatal whatever treatment is given. We offer our sincere condolences to the families."
The two children, both from Ipswich, Suffolk, died within weeks of each other, triggering fears of an outbreak of meningitis in the area.
Ellie died on December 14 last year, within 10 hours of developing symptoms. On New Year's Eve, Rhianna died suddenly after she was taken to hospital suffering from the condition.
It was found they both died from meningococcal septicaemia - a type of blood poisoning that is caused by the same type of bacteria that cause the most common form of bacterial meningitis.
Steve Dayman, the chief executive of Meningitis UK who lost his own son to the disease in 1982, said: "It's always worrying to hear about cases where standard procedures weren't followed.
"Although the report can't say whether this would have saved Ellie and Rhianna's lives, we know that the sooner antibiotics are administered the better the chances of survival are.
"While meningitis is notoriously difficult to diagnose, health professionals need to make sure they're alert to all the signs because of the speed at which meningitis strikes, sometimes killing in under four hours.
"We continue to get a distinct impression that if children were observed for longer then more lives would be saved.
"In Ellie's case, her parents suspected meningitis when they took her to hospital but she was sent home with a water infection. It's important to listen to parents' concerns as they know their children best.
"Meningitis should always be a major consideration because early diagnosis and hospital treatment can mean the difference between life and death."
Meningitis UK is dedicated to funding vaccine research to eradicate the disease through its Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign.
Although successful vaccines exist to protect against some strains, there is still no vaccine available to protect against the most common form - meningococcal group B.
Meningitis UK is offering the public free symptoms information packs to help raise awareness. These include a leaflet with all the facts and frequently asked questions, plus a ‘Check the Symptoms' fridge magnet and a handy wallet-sized symptoms card.
To order your free symptoms information pack, please call 0117 373 73 73 or visit www.meningitisUK.org
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