Adelaide boy, 9, forced to wait seven hours in hospital after being stabbed in violent robbery at Unley

A little boy who was stabbed in a terrifying robbery had to wait hours to see a doctor. Health minister Chris Picton says senior doctors will meet with the family today “to learn lessons”.

Paramedics at the scene of the stabbing. Huckleberry Myers, 9 and his mother, Holly were attacked and robbed while in their car on Sunday morning. Picture: 7NEWS

A young boy has been forced to wait hours to see a doctor for hospital treatment after being stabbed by car thieves during an attack outside the family’s Adelaide home.

Detectives are investigating how nine-year-old Huckleberry Myers, and his mother Holly, 47, were attacked in an “altercation” with a gang of men at Unley about 4.30am on Sunday.

The family has criticised SA Health and Premier Peter Malinauskas’ Labor government after the Year 3 student waited hours to be seen by Women’s and Children’s Hospital doctors.

The boy – known as Huck – is in a stable condition after surgery last night on his injured right hand.

Ms Myers, an actor, will have surgery today after being stabbed on the left arm.

Officials said a doctor first saw Huck at 9am – more than 3½ hours after he was admitted and triaged – before he was sent for X-rays.

A specialist then assessed him about noon – almost seven hours later.

The family dispute those timings.

Today Health Minister Chris Picton defended the State Government’s handling of health.

“Firstly let me say I’m sure all South Australians are shocked by that incident,” he told ABC radio this morning.

He said the boy was seen immediately by the triage nurse but there was a number of “significant priority one cases” that were prioritised ahead of treating the boy.

He said nine extra doctors had started work at the WCH in the past 12 months and more were due to start soon.

Labor had pledge to recruit 300 more nurses, 100 more doctors and 350 more ambos — by June 30 next year.

“We are putting in more resources because a three-hour wait to see a doctor is too long.”

Mr Picton said he had asked the he hospital’s chief medical officer Dr Gavin Wheaton and emergency department chief Dr Malcolm Higgins to meet with the family today to “hear their concerns … and ultimately to learn lessons”.

Huck Myers, 9, with his pet toy “Sharky” recovers in the Women's and Children's Hospital after he was stabbed during a violent car robbery outside his family's Unley home. Picture supplied by family

Holly Myers with her son Huck. Both are recovering in hospital. Picture supplied by family

Police search for evidence after Huck Myers, 9 and his mother Holly, 47, were stabbed during a car robbery on Sunday morning. Picture: 7NEWS

The gang, which fled with thousands of dollars’ worth of goods, was still on the run on Sunday night.

In a scathing letter to Mr Malinauskas, a copy of which has been obtained by The Advertiser, Huck’s property developer stepfather, Tim Watson, 50, urged immediate action.

Mr Watson, who was not at home at the time of the attack but raced to the hospital, said police had to drive his partner to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where she was treated before returning to the WCH later on Sunday to be with Huck.

“The reason I bring this to your attention is that as a MAJOR PROMISE in your election win for the South Australian Labor Party was to fix our hospital systems, making more doctors and nurses available,” he wrote to the Premier.

“So we sit here wondering what happened to those promises. Try explaining this to my 9-year-old stepson.

“He is a wonderful young boy who has been terribly traumatised by this incident and he can’t even see or speak to a doctor. He likes to speak to people when he gets hurt. He likes to know that he will be OK!

Paramedics outside the Unley home after Huck and his mother Holly were stabbed in the robbery. Picture: 7NEWS

“So, he asked me to write to you while we wait for the doctors & nurses. It’s not their fault. It’s the government’s.

You cannot pass the buck to the Liberal Party anymore! Seriously, that ship sailed long ago!

“Fix the system. It’s BROKEN.”

Mr Malinauskas, whose government has committed $50m for the WCH upkeep before a new hospital is built by 2032, spoke to the family on Sunday for about 20 minutes.

Mr Watson, who was staying at the family’s beach house at the time of the attack, later said it had been “very traumatic” for Huck and his mother, who had been due to leave for a month-long holiday to Vietnam later this week.

Tim Watson and partner Holly Myers with her son Huck. Picture supplied by family

“We don’t blame the good staff here, they’re trying to do their best – it’s not their fault,” he said.

“They’ve not got enough staff. It’s a disgrace, it is a real disgrace. It is not good enough.”

He said the issue was now above politics.

‘It’s a problem that needs to be fixed. It doesn’t matter who you vote for. This is a major problem.”

The drama unfolded early on Sunday morning after Ms Myers heard her dog barking and investigated outside their home.

She saw three men – two of African appearance and another caucasian suspect – breaking into her luxury BMW X5 4WD car, which contained valuables, before they fled on foot leaving the car.

Her son had followed to help but as she tried to drive off to a safe area, one of the men returned and managed to stab Huck in the hand through an open car window as he sat in the passenger seat while his mother tried to shield him.

The pair were rushed to the WCH just before 5am.

Police said the offenders fled west towards King William Rd. They are still at large. A search for evidence located a knife nearby.

A Women’s and Children’s Hospital spokeswoman said its emergency department “was busier than usual” on Sunday morning “with a significant amount of high acuity paediatric patients”. “All patients presenting to our (emergency department) are treated according to clinical priority,” she said.

She said check-ups and “ongoing nursing care” was provided to Huck at regular intervals “and staff reported the child appearing calm and happy”.

“Additional staff, including the on-call doctor, were brought in to support the overnight shift to improve the flow of patients through the ED.

“We are committed to delivering high-quality care to our community and every child who presents to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Paediatric emergency department will always receive the care and treatment they need.”

The first suspect is described as being of caucasian appearance, 175cm tall, long brown hair and was wearing a hooded black jacket.

The second suspect was of African appearance, slim build, 165cm tall, short dark hair, slight stubble, and was wearing a black jacket and trousers.

The third suspect was of African appearance, slim build, 165cm tall and was wearing dark clothing.

Eastern Adelaide CIB detectives are investigating the robbery and if it is linked to other home invasions at Unley, Wayville and Seaton.

Those suspects fled Wayville in a red 2017 Mazda CX5, stolen from Brooklyn Park overnight that was also used in a petrol drive-off at Underdale.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police have also been battling a gang of youths aged 12 to 15 believed responsible for a year-long spate of luxury vehicle thefts and wild police chases.