Parents’ concerns over treatment of daughter who died from Strep A
THE parents of a five-year-old girl who died from Strep A have raised concerns over her care at a Nottinghamshire hospital.
Meha Carneiro was taken to A&E at King’s Mill Hospital in Sutton-inashfield in the early morning of December 5, 2022. She suffered a cardiac arrest at 1.50am and died despite resuscitation attempts.
An inquest which began at Nottingham Council House yesterday heard Meha had Down’s syndrome and tended to “deteriorate rapidly” when unwell.
Her parents’ concerns were read out by Assistant Coroner Elizabeth Didcock at the hearing. They said a doctor at the Sherwood Forest Hospitals-run hospital had at one point advised them to take their daughter home, which they did not do.
“[The doctor] said it was the season for colds and viruses and there were too many patients in the department,” they said. “He suggested Meha should be taken home.”
The parents also accused staff of retrospectively and inaccurately filling out medical assessments and said they were “concerned and at disbelief” at a perceived lack of action by staff over their daughter’s high heart rate.
“We’re extremely worried about the care she received,” they added.
A post-mortem examination found Meha had died from Strep A, finding signs of the bacterial infection in her blood, spinal fluid and throat. A pathologist said it would tie in with her symptoms such as a cough, fever and swollen lips, as well as her later collapse in A&E.
The inquest heard a statement from student nurse Philipa Bailey, who was working in paediatrics in the emergency department. Recalling the day, she said it was “very busy with a high number of children in the department”. Ms Bailey said she had trouble taking observation assessments from Meha after she became “distressed”.
The inquest continues.