Townsville mother condemns Townsville University Hospital for treatment of sick child

A little boy who could not swallow without choking, who lost 20 percent of his body weight in his first week of life, had to wait 11 months until a regional Queensland hospital confirmed what his parents feared all along. SPECIAL REPORT

Lynda Armstrong said Townsville University Hospital’s treatment of son Hunter Tween, turning 3 on Monday was abysmal, disgraceful and appalling. Picture: Supplied

A desperate mother has condemned Townsville University Hospital for its “appalling” treatment of her seriously ill child.

“It is abysmal, it’s disgraceful, it’s appalling,” Lynda Armstrong said of the hospital’s treatment of son Hunter Tween, turning 3 on Monday, and the ordeal the family had been forced to endure.

She said Hunter had been bravely battling since he was born, saying he lost 20 per cent of his body weight in his first week of life.

“By 10 weeks we engaged Townsville University Hospital … about our concerns regarding his swallowing (but) we were fobbed off and told he was normal.”

Hunter Tween, turning 3 on Monday, has battled illness since he was first born, including troubles swallowing that requires a feeding tube, lung damage and now a mass detected on his brain. Picture: Supplied

Ms Armstrong said despite a series of admissions to hospital, including at least one 000 emergency, it wasn’t until Hunter was 11-months old that a study was completed confirming “we were right and he couldn’t swallow”.

She said the hospital refused to provide Hunter with a feeding tube to protect his lungs, despite external expert advice he needed one.

Ms Armstrong said TUH eventually relented and installed the tube resulting in a “different child”.

“He could run, he could walk, he wasn’t choking … he wasn’t going to die at the dinner table.”

She said the family returned to Brisbane for a bronchoscope that revealed “significant lung damage” that could have been avoided if the family’s concerns were taken seriously in the first place.

Hunter Tween, right, and his sister. Picture: Supplied

Ms Armstrong said that adding to the nightmare, a mass had been detected in Hunter’s brain at TUH 18 months ago.

She said that after another lengthy ordeal at the hands of the hospital, Hunter underwent a third MRI at Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.

“We were told that if that repeat MRI continued to show changes, he would need a biopsy … that biopsy came with a risk of 50 per cent vision loss, massive haemorrhage or death.”

The mother-of-two said they were due to be in Brisbane for a meeting at QCH on Wednesday but could not afford to travel.

“Over the last three years, I’ve had to downgrade my career, I was a six-figure earner, I’m not anymore, I can’t be with what Hunter needs.”

She said that “every step of the way we have incurred challenges and fights that were unnecessary”.

“All we wanted was the standard of care for him with what would be expected by anybody in the community and we have not received that.”

A mass has been detected on Hunter Tween’s brain. Mother Lynda Armstrong said a biopsy comes with a risk of 50 per cent vision loss, massive haemorrhage or death. Picture: Supplied

Ms Armstrong said she had written an official six-page complaint via email to TUH on March 15.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service Acting CEO Stephen Eaton confirmed that Ms Armstrong had shared concerns about her son’s care.

“These are complex and cross several agencies and departments,” he said.

“It’s important we look at these concerns thoroughly and we will respond as soon as we can.”

He said that due to privacy laws, THHS could not provide specific details about Hunter’s care.

“However, we take all concerns raised with our health service very seriously and will provide a response to Ms Armstrong as soon as we are able.”

Originally published as Townsville mother condemns Townsville University Hospital for treatment of sick child