Latest news with #DerrifordHospital
Telegraph
03-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Hospital missed chances to stop boy's sepsis death
A hospital missed opportunities to treat a three-year-old boy who later died from sepsis, an inquest jury found. Theo Tuikubulau had been gradually getting sicker with a high temperature, flu-like symptoms and breathing difficulties, and was reluctant to eat or drink. The jury returned a narrative conclusion and highlighted three 'missed opportunities' when his mother had called the 72-hour open access line, the differences in 111 and 999 categorisations, and the allocation of ambulances following the emergency call as being contributory factors. 'From this, Theo died from an invasive Group Strep A infection contributed by missed opportunities to render earlier care and treatment,' they said. The four-day hearing heard Theo was first admitted to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, on the afternoon of July 6 2022 with a suspected upper respiratory infection, but discharged a few hours later. Kayleigh Kenneford, his mother, explained that her son's condition had not been improving as she looked after him at home. 'I remembered that the doctor had said that Theo might get worse before he got better, so I was thinking that it was his body fighting the infection,' she told the inquest. 'I was watching my son deteriorate and just thinking that this was how things were supposed to happen, that he would get worse before he got better, but really, he was dying.' Ms Kenneford called the 72-hour, open access line listed in a discharge letter, but said she felt 'fobbed off' by a nurse. An hour later, at 11pm, she called 111 and after a further three calls, an ambulance arrived at their home near Plymouth shortly before 12.30am. Theo reached the hospital just after 1am, some 90 minutes after Ms Kenneford first called 111. He received emergency treatment but suffered cardiac arrest at 1.35am and died a short time later. The cause of death was from sepsis, caused by an 'invasive' Strep A infection. Before Theo's first admission, call handlers from the South West Ambulance Service Trust had graded his case as category one, meaning it was life-threatening. When Ms Kenneford called 111, her son's case was rated at category two by service operator Herts Urgent Care, which led to the ambulance taking longer to respond. Jon Knight, head of emergency operations at the South West Ambulance Service Trust, said that had the call been answered by his team it would have been graded as a category one. Asked about a likely response time, he replied: 'It certainly would have been quicker than 90 minutes, would be my belief.' The inquest heard that, had the ambulance reached Theo within the national target, he could have been in hospital by midnight. Prof Damian Roland, a paediatric consultant in emergency medicine, said he could say when the sepsis had developed but once an 'inflammatory cascade' begins it 'can be difficult, sometimes impossible to stop'. 'I am very clear about the fact that the night before (July 6), we were not in a cascade situation,' he said. The inquest heard it was difficult to know what the outcome would have been if Theo had been readmitted to the hospital after his mother spoke with the nurse on the phone or following the 111 call. 'I can't say on the balance of probability that intervention by 11pm would have made a critical difference,' he said. Assistant coroner Louise Wiltshire asked: 'Is it likely on balance of probabilities that Theo would have died when he did if appropriate care and treatment was administered at 11pm?' Prof Roland replied: 'I think had he arrived earlier, I think it is possible that he would not have suffered the cardiac arrest at that point.' He was asked about what could have happened had Theo arrived at the hospital by midnight if the 111 call had been graded as a category one emergency. 'I think some earlier treatment would have especially delayed the collapse,' Prof Roland said. At the end of the inquest, Ms Wiltshire said she had concerns about the 111 and 999 systems for grading calls which 'appear to create a two-tier system particularly if both are used in the same geographical area'.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Missed chances to prevent boy's sepsis death
Missed opportunities to provide earlier care contributed to the death of a three-year-old boy, an inquest jury has concluded. Theo Tuikubulau died from a Strep A infection which led to sepsis, the jury at County Hall in Exeter concluded. Kayleigh Kenneford called 111 on the evening of 7 July, 2022, because her son was unwell, but the inquest heard ambulance crews took 90 minutes to reach Theo's home in Torpoint, Cornwall, due to the grading given to the call. He died in the early hours the next day. The jury heard Theo would not have had a cardiac arrest and would not have died if he had arrived at hospital sooner. Ms Kenneford told the inquest Theo was a "happy, loving and affectionate little boy" who was obsessed with buses and fire engines and loved being at nursery. The 10-person jury concluded delays in ambulances, ambulance call categorisations and a 72-hour hotline to the hospital's child assessment unit all contributed to his death. The jury concluded there were "missed opportunities" in his early care. Before Ms Kenneford made the 111 call on 7 July, Theo had already been admitted and discharged from Plymouth's Derriford Hospital the previous day with a suspected upper respiratory infection, the inquest heard. For the previous 36 hours before the call, Theo had been gradually getting sicker with a high temperature, flu-like symptoms, breathing difficulties and was reluctant to drink or eat, the hearing was told. At 21:47 BST on July 7, Ms Kenneford rang a 72-hour hotline to the child assessment unit at the hospital where Theo had been earlier and spoke to a nurse who suggested she give Theo some sugary drinks. A recorded 111 call heard Theo "grunting" as he breathed and the inquest was told Ms Kenneford made a series of other 111 calls the night before making a 999 call. A category one response was made following the 999 call and Theo was taken back to Derriford Hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest. He died a short time later as his parents held his hands. Consultant paediatrician Dr Andy Robinson told the inquest jury Theo did not have sepsis when he assessed him two days prior to his death. The inquest heard he would have got to hospital earlier had a 111 operator graded his call as life-threatening. Darryn Allcorn, chief nurse and director of integrated professions at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said after the inquest the "early identification of sepsis in children be challenging, even for very experienced healthcare staff". "Whilst NICE [National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] guidance and all relevant procedures were followed including Theo being examined carefully, he was diagnosed with a viral infection and thought well enough to return home," he said. "He deteriorated quickly afterwards. "Our staff are committed to always considering sepsis as a possible diagnosis in any child who presents as unwell with a fever. "We continue to give our heartfelt condolences to Theo's family and will continue to offer them our support." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@ Boy could have reached hospital sooner - inquest Mum of boy who died of sepsis felt 'fobbed off' Boy had no sepsis days before death, says doctor HM Courts & Tribunals
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Missed chances to prevent boy's sepsis death, inquest jury finds
Missed opportunities to provide earlier care contributed to the death of a three-year-old boy, an inquest jury has Tuikubulau died from a Strep A infection which led to sepsis, the jury at County Hall in Exeter Kenneford called 111 on the evening of 7 July, 2022, because her son was unwell, but the inquest heard ambulance crews took 90 minutes to reach Theo's home in Torpoint, Cornwall, due to the grading given to the call. He died in the early hours the next jury heard Theo would not have had a cardiac arrest and would not have died if he had arrived at hospital sooner. Ms Kenneford told the inquest Theo was a "happy, loving and affectionate little boy" who was obsessed with buses and fire engines and loved being at 10-person jury concluded delays in ambulances, ambulance call categorisations and a 72-hour hotline to the hospital's child assessment unit all contributed to his jury concluded there were "missed opportunities" in his early Ms Kenneford made the 111 call on 7 July, Theo had already been admitted and discharged from Plymouth's Derriford Hospital the previous day with a suspected upper respiratory infection, the inquest heard. Quickly deteriorated For the previous 36 hours before the call, Theo had been gradually getting sicker with a high temperature, flu-like symptoms, breathing difficulties and was reluctant to drink or eat, the hearing was 21:47 BST on July 7, Ms Kenneford rang a 72-hour hotline to the child assessment unit at the hospital where Theo had been earlier and spoke to a nurse who suggested she give Theo some sugary drinks.A recorded 111 call heard Theo "grunting" as he inquest heard Ms Kenneford made a series of 111 calls the night before making a 999 call.A category one response was made following the 999 call and Theo was taken back to Derriford Hospital when he suffered a cardiac arrest. He died a short time later as his parents held his hands. Early identification challenging Consultant paediatrician Dr Andy Robinson told the inquest jury Theo did not have sepsis when he assessed him two days prior to his inquest heard he would have got to hospital earlier had a 111 operator graded his call as life-threatening. Darryn Allcorn, chief nurse and director of integrated professions at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, said the "early identification of sepsis in children be challenging, even for very experienced healthcare staff". "Whilst NICE [National Institute for Health and Care Excellence] guidance and all relevant procedures were followed including Theo being examined carefully, he was diagnosed with a viral infection and thought well enough to return home," he said."He deteriorated quickly afterwards."Our staff are committed to always considering sepsis as a possible diagnosis in any child who presents as unwell with a fever."We continue to give our heartfelt condolences to Theo's family and will continue to offer them our support."
BBC News
03-07-2025
- BBC News
Man in hospital after Plymouth scooter crash
A man has been taken to hospital with serious injuries after a crash involving a scooter in were called to the incident at a crossing in Exeter Street at 17:55 BST on Wednesday to the incident which involved a grey Piaggio pedestrian, a man aged in his 20s, was taken to Derriford Hospital in a critical condition.A 19-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drink or drugs. Police and paramedics attended the scene and the street was closed for about seven hours to allow forensic collision investigators to examine the have appealed for witnesses and have urged anyone with information or footage to contact the force.
Telegraph
02-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Boy died of sepsis after call handler said condition wasn't life-threatening
A three-year-old boy's condition was not deemed to be life-threatening by a 111 operator hours before he died of sepsis, an inquest heard. Kayleigh Kenneford called 111 on the evening of July 7 2022, because her three-year-old son Theo Tuikubulau was unwell. For the previous 36 hours, he had been gradually getting sicker and sicker with a high temperature, flu-like symptoms, breathing difficulties and was reluctant to drink or eat. He had already been admitted and discharged from Plymouth's Derriford Hospital the previous day with a suspected upper respiratory infection. Devon coroner's court has heard that 999 calls to the South West Ambulance Service Trust and to the 111 service use different pathways for grading emergencies. The ambulance trust's Advanced Medical Priority Dispatch System (AMPDS) graded Theo's breathing difficulties as a category one on July 6, while the 111 service's NHS Pathway ranked similar symptoms as a category two the following day. Ambulance took 90 minutes This meant crews took 90 minutes to reach Theo after Ms Kenneford first phoned for an ambulance shortly before 11pm on July 7. Theo was taken back to Derriford – arriving shortly after 1am – where he died a few hours later from sepsis, caused by an 'invasive' Strep A infection. Jon Knight, head of emergency operations at the South West Ambulance Service Trust, had reviewed the 111 call and was asked what would have happened if it had been made to his employers. 'My belief is based on the trigger phrase that the patient was fighting for breath at the time, it would have triggered a [category one] through the AMPDS system,' he said. Mr Knight said he was dealing with 'hypotheticals' as to how quickly a category one ambulance that night would have reached Theo. 'It is really hard to commit to a time,' he said. 'It certainly would have been quicker than 90 minutes, would be my belief. 'I think with the right set of circumstances – if you didn't have an ambulance available in the area and you were bringing one from Derriford Hospital – you are probably looking at 30 minutes.' 'Manage patient expectation' Louise Wiltshire, assistant coroner for Devon, asked Mr Knight about the evidence of Ms Kenneford in which she said she was told by the 111 call handler an ambulance would not be long. 'What I can tell you is within the training with our own service, we would not ask or allow our colleagues to give people average or any sort of indication of ambulance response time,' he replied. 'What we say to patients is: 'An ambulance has been arranged for you. It will be with you as soon as possible. If your condition changes or worsens in any way, call us back immediately.' 'We try to manage patient expectation in that way and give them a very clear instruction to call us back, regardless of timescale.' Mr Knight told the inquest that having reviewed documents relating to Theo's care that evening, the ambulance crew recognised he was seriously unwell and immediately took him to Derriford Hospital. 'I think the crew made all the appropriate and correct decisions in their decision to leave the scene and take Theo to hospital,' he said. The hospital was also alerted in advance that the ambulance was coming and staff were waiting for him, Mr Knight said. 'I absolutely support all of the decision-making that was made at the time,' he added. 'Could have come in 30-33 minutes' Andrew Morse, representing Theo's family, suggested if the call on July 7 had been assessed as a category one then he could have potentially arrived at the hospital by 11.45pm. 'On balance, given the testimony I've already given to the coroner, I think that that's a reasonable assumption,' Mr Knight replied. The inquest heard there was a paramedic crew who could have reached Theo within 33 minutes had his call been graded as category one. Megan Barker, Mr Knight's deputy, said: 'At best guess, if we compared that to the resource that did go approximately an hour-and-a-bit later, it would have taken them around 30 to 33 minutes to get to Theo. 'We can guess that they would have spent a similar amount of time with Theo, so likely have had a hospital arrival time of about 30 minutes later. 'That puts us around maybe 12.10am.'
