WCH boss sorry for mum’s distress after viruses mistaken for asthma

The WCH has apologised and pledged to make changes after a little boy suffering from a range of dangerous conditions – including sepsis – was misdiagnosed with asthma then sent home.

An Adelaide mother has received an official apology after the Women’s and Children’s Hospital wrongly diagnosed her son’s virus-related breathing problems as asthma.

The young boy, then two years-of-age, was rushed to the hospital following a febrile convulsion – a fit or seizure suffered in young children with a high fever – at his northern suburbs home in October last year.

Despite pleas from his mother to run a simple blood test, hospital clinicians released the boy – who was visibly suffering “respiratory distress” – later the same day after diagnosing him with asthma.

He was rushed back to hospital three times over the next fortnight, during which he spent several nights in intensive care and on general wards.

Young patient, then aged two, in the Women's and Children's Hospital in October last year. Picture: Supplied

The boy’s mother wrote to Premier Peter Malinauskas and health minister Chris Picton after the frightening experience. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

The boy, who is now receiving private respiratory specialist medical treatment and specialised antibiotics, was later found with adenovirus and rhinovirus. He also had sepsis.

Since then he has returned to hospital twice and been diagnosed with protracted bacterial bronchitis.

Hospital bosses have apologised for the family’s “distress”.

The Advertiser last week revealed clinician concerns about hospitals being akin to “war zones”.

The boy’s teacher mother, aged in her mid-30s, is devastated after she was told a blood test – which other doctors said would have identified the viruses – was “unnecessary”.

She said staff were generally wonderful but lacked vital resources. “They sent him home to die,” said the mother, who declined to be identified.

“I just want (him) back to full health. “We had a few weeks over the summer when he was his normal self but he’s now got scarring on his lungs.”

The mother of two, together with her electrician husband, also aged in his 30s, have been left outraged by the care, the ward’s filth and how long complaints took to be addressed.

She wrote to Health Minister Chris Picton, and Premier Peter Malinauskas, voicing her anger.

Mr Picton told the family how an internal investigation found “opportunities” to overhaul discharge and cleaning protocols.

He also wrote the hospital’s boss, Lindsey Gough, “sincerely apologises for the distress caused”.

The Women's and Children's Hospital in North Adelaide.

He said on Tuesday: “I was concerned to hear of this family’s experience last year.

“That’s why I asked that the head of paediatrics, Dr John Widger, meet with the family directly to ensure their concerns were being heard and acted upon,” he wrote.

This occurred in December, he said, after which the hospital “undertook a number of important actions to help improve care for future patients”. He said resources were being injected at the hospital “neglected for many years”.

A spokeswoman for the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Network said the family had received an apology “for the distress caused by their experience at the hospital” and agreed on follow-up actions.
“As with all complaints, senior clinicians at the WCHN have reviewed the patient’s care throughout his time at hospital and also met with the family late last year to directly discuss concerns about their experience,” she said.

“We have provided additional training to our junior staff to allow for more effective and accurate discharge protocols, focused on improved communication between our wards and clinical teams, and have ensured our cleaning and housekeeping are consistently at a very high standard in line with hospital protocols.”