A hospital in Sydney’s inner west will implement a new program for concerned parents to question doctors, after a 13-year-old boy died just hours after being discharged.
Carey Alexander was brought to Concord Hospital on August 9, 2014 suffering from flu-like symptoms, but was sent home despite not being able to walk, a NSW coronial inquest heard.
Twelve hours later he was rushed to Westmead Children’s Hospital where he died from myocarditis, an inflammation of his heart, which caused him to go into cardiac arrest.
A hospital in Sydney’s inner west will implement a new program for concerned parents to question doctors, after 13-year-old Carey Alexander (pictured) died just hours after being discharged
When first admitted, Carey was reportedly lethargic, had an irregular heartbeat, could not walk and even lost consciousness, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
He was discharged around 2.20am the following night, despite the nurse who removed his drip being told he could not walk.
The information was not relayed to doctors, something Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan called a ‘very significant’ misstep.
‘Carey’s virus was an extremely aggressive one and caused his condition to deteriorate dramatically between 2.30am and 7am,’ Ms Ryan said.
Ms Ryan also found Concord staff failed to engage with his parents’ concerns and suggested the implementation of the REACH program.
The initiative allows those concerned about their children to call for an urgent review and will be rolled out by the hospital next month.
A NSW coronial inquest heard that the young boy was brought to Concord Hospital on August 9, 2014 suffering from flu-like symptoms, but despite being unable to walk was sent home and died 12 hours later (Pictured is his mother Karen Alexander at the inquest)
Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan said that Concord staff failed to engage with his parents’ concerns and suggested the implementation of the REACH program, which the hospital will put into practice from next month
Despite the hospital’s actions, Ms Ryan said that there was no assurance Carey’s death would have been prevented had he stayed in hospital.
Hospital administers apologised to the Alexander family during the inquest, stating he should not have been discharged.
‘It was inappropriate for him to be released from hospital, so we are very pleased with the findings that have been made,’ his mother Karen Alexander told Nine News.
‘By doing the inquest, which was a very long process, we feel that there may be some changes to the health system which will help other families and children.’
Mrs Alexander added that there were ‘some missed opportunities that may have changed the outcome’, the ABC reports.
‘He was very caring, same as his name, and I know there’s a lot of people out there who still miss him,’ she said.
Hospital administers apologised to the Alexander family during the inquest, stating he should not have been discharged, with Ms Alexander (pictured, right) saying they were ‘pleased’ with the findings and hoped changes could benefit other families