‘Why won’t doctor see me Mummy?’
A GIRL aged five died after a GP refused to see her because she was 10 minutes late for an emergency appointment.
Ellie-May Clark had been taken to the surgery after having an asthma attack while at school.
Her mum Shanice rang to warn they might be late but Dr Joanne Rowe turned them away for breaching the surgery’s “10-minute” rule.
Shanice told an inquest that her upset daughter asked: “Why won’t the doctor see me?”
She had spoken to the receptionist at The Grange Clinic in Malpas, Newport, Gwent, who phoned Dr Rowe.
But the GP of 22 years refused to see Ellie-May and said she should come back the next morning.
Computer records stated that EllieMay was at risk of having a life-threatening asthma attack.
But the hearing in Newport heard that the doctor never looked at it.
Dr Rowe admitted: “It was not acceptable that I sent her away. I should have got the duty doctor to see her.” Ellie-May’s condition worsened that night at her home in Newport. An ambulance was called and she was taken to hospital.
But she died of a severe asthma attack brought on by a viral infection on January 26, 2015.
Police took no action against Dr Rowe and the General Medical Council gave her a warning.
Gwent Coroner Wendy James recorded a narrative verdict, saying: “EllieMay Clark died from natural causes where the opportunity to provide potential life-saving treatment was missed.”
Ms James added that it was not possible to decide whether earlier medical intervention would have saved EllieMay’s life.
In a statement later, the family stated: “We are disappointed that a finding of neglect was not reached.”