A terrified ten-year-old boy’s leg exploded with pus because medics had left pieces of wood in a wound after he fell out of a tree, his family have said.
The horrific incident happened nine days after Reece Barber, from Norwich, was badly injured in the tree accident.
Reece’s furious parents, Claire Carpenter and Ben Barber, are now set to make an official complaint against Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where he was treated.
A terrified ten-year-old boy’s leg exploded with pus because medics had left pieces of wood in a wound after he fell out of a tree, his family have said
Hospital chiefs today said they have launched an urgent investigation into the issue.
Ms Carpenter said: ‘I’m 90 per cent sure Reece had sepsis. The surgeon was incredible.
‘But we’re going to put in an official complaint about A&E because my poor 10-year-old boy has really suffered.’
The frantic parents rushed Reece to A&E after he tumbled out of a tree on September 4.
Medics cleaned up the wound and the shaken-up youngster was given stitches.
But Ms Carpenter said Reece took a dramatic turn for the worse nine days later.
The horrific incident happened nine days after Reece Barber, from Norwich, was badly injured in the tree accident. Pictured, the wood removed from his leg
‘I had taken him up to bed because he said he was hot and dizzy,’ the shocked mum-of-four told the Norwich Evening News.
‘On the 13th his leg just exploded, with this gunky, smelly, awful stuff.’
The horrified family immediately called the NHS 111 number and were told to go to a local walk-in centre. Medics sent them straight to the hospital.
Reece had emergency surgery to remove chunks of wood – one of which was more than 2ins long – left in his leg.
The shattered youngster was too ill to return to school at the start of the new term with his mates and only went back last week after his ordeal.
Reece’s furious parents, Claire Carpenter and Ben Barber, are now set to make an official complaint against Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital where he was treated
Ms Carpenter said Reece has undiagnosed autism.
She said the nightmare of being forced to go to hospital twice and the shocking accident had totally stressed him out.
‘We were just trying to keep Reece calm,’ insisted Ms Carpenter. ‘He will say himself that it was A&E he was very wary of.’
A hospital spokesman said: ‘We are sorry to hear about this patient’s experience at our hospital and there is an investigation under way.
A hospital spokesman said: ‘We are sorry to hear about this patient’s experience at our hospital and there is an investigation under way’
‘We have been in contact with the patient’s family, in accordance with our responsibilities under the duty of candour regulations, and will inform them of the outcome of the investigation.’
He added: ‘Due to patient confidentiality, we are unable to answer any specific questions on the clinical care of individual patients.
‘We are always committed to ensuring our patients receive the highest quality care.
‘We investigate all incidents in order to identify ways to improve and cases are reviewed by a multi-disciplinary team.’