Leicester Royal Infirmary missed teenager's internal injuries
A hospital has apologised after doctors failed to spot a teenager was suffering from internal bleeding following a sledging accident.
Mia Ames was sent home from A&E at Leicester Royal Infirmary and told to take painkillers. She collapsed a few hours later.
The 13-year-old then spent three days in intensive care. A scan showed she had suffered a ruptured spleen.
Mia's parents have lodged a complaint.
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Mum Katie Rayner, from Aylestone, Leicester, said: "If Mia had had a scan when she first went to the hospital she might not have suffered so much internal bleeding and been so poorly.
"When we knew she was going to be all right and I looked on the internet about ruptured spleens. Mia had all the symptoms."
Mia was injured when she hit a tree trunk while sledging with friends in Aylestone Fields on Monday, January 21.
Her parents took her to A&E at 3pm because her shoulder and side were hurting.
Ms Rayner said: "The doctor said her ribs weren't broken and her shoulder was fine and to go home and give her some painkillers."
At 8pm her father, Gary Ames, went to check on Mia and she fainted.
He took her to hospital, where she fainted again.
"That's when they did a scan and discovered the ruptured spleen," said Ms Rayner.
"Mia was moved to intensive care and was there for three days and had to have three blood transfusions."
Mia was moved to a general ward on January 24 and allowed home a week later.
She will have to have three weeks off school and is not allowed to do any contact sports for five months.
Ms Rayner said: "I shudder to think what could have happened if her dad hadn't gone to check on Mia when he did."
Mia said: "I am feeling much better now but it was really scary at the time."
Dr Ffion Davies, a consultant in emergency medicine at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, said: "When Mia returned to the emergency department and we realised she had internal injuries we immediately began investigating what had happened and apologised to her parents.
"I would like to add my voice to that apology and assure Mia's parents we have taken this very seriously.
"We have systems in place for dealing with severe injuries but internal bleeding from a sledging accident is quite unusual and that is why the consultant did not order a scan.
"I took immediate action to remind all the A&E staff it should be something we always consider in sledging accidents.
"We will use this experience to improve the way we respond to such cases in future. I am glad Mia is recovering well.
"We will be sharing all our findings with Mia's parents and we wish her a continued speedy recovery."
2 Comments
by Guthy
Monday, February 18 2013, 1:12PM
“My Son died in LRI after numerous internal injuries went untreated and misdiagnosed in both A&E and ITU. That was in 2003. Despite assurances to us of the contrary, clearly this still happens there.
Will the Doctors concerned be sanctioned? (sic)”
by DonHenson
Tuesday, February 12 2013, 3:07AM
“Here's wishing Mia a speedy recovery. And let's just remember that this one didn't count as a "never" event. Even if it should.”