[Zmuma]

My DD2 had an accident prior to Xmas. She pulled a glass hall table on herself. She fell backwards with the glass landing vertically on her chest and a large glass candle hit her in the head. It was horrible, I heard the crash and new what she had done. As I came around the corner there was a split second where I thought it landed across her throat. It was the worst feeling. I could have lost her so easily.

I took her straight to the local hospital rather than the Sydney Children's hospital, big mistake. They didn't even look at her chest, just listened & were just focusing on her head. I was still quite rattled and was just glad she was ok.

She was quite happy over the next 2 days but was crying every time she fell on her butt or if she fell forward. I thought she may have bruised her chest and it was hurting when she fell. Both DH and I felt uneasy.

It wasn't until I went to play round and round the garden and I turned her hand over and she screamed and took a good 10 mins to settle. I knew then that her arm was injured. I waited until she calmed down and gently squeezed down her arm until I got near her wrist and she screamed again. Off to the Syd Children's hospital where it is confirmed that she has fractured both bones above her wrist.


After the guilt subsided I started thinking that the first hospital should have noticed or at least given her a once over.

Is it worth writing to the hospital to complain or just leave it? I doubt my letter would change anything. But it might get back to the treating Doctor who may be more thorough next time.

[Kay1]

Oh my god yes!! They should definitely be notified, that is a terrible oversight! They should have done a thorough examination.

I'm sorry to say but this is why I always go straight to Sydney Kids Hospital.

I'm sorry your poor DD had to go through that. I hope she heals well soon, what an ordeal for all of you.

[Guest_3Keiki_*]

yes take it further, many years ago my DS had a fall, not huge but he too had pulled something over onto himself. Hospital did a full body xray to rule any break.
The doctor was very wrong in this instance and missing these kinds of things could lead to a very very serious outcome in future they need to be counselled for sure

[Guest_3Keiki_*]

dp

This post has been edited by 3Keiki: 21/01/2013, 08:20 PM

[Juki]

This is horrific, I would be seeing a lawyer, not for money but to see what can be done about it.. You don't want this happening to someone else!

[soontobegran]

So did she have any obvious bruising or swelling of her arm? Was it obviously misshapen? Was she favouring it? If she did then they have missed the ball but if no then there would be no sign they should be x-raying it. It took two days for you to have her home before you noticed that it was painful for her and you said she seemed quite happy.
They would have been focused on her head because a head injury isn't necessarily immediately obvious but if she was crying, talking and her colour was ok then the presumption would have been that she didn't have any chest damage.
It's upsetting, I understand that but you do not do full body x-raying on the chance there maybe a fracture and unless there was something immediately obvious it is really not so unusual that it could be overlooked.

I am all for making caregivers accountable for making mistakes but with young children who can not verbalise where things hurt the diagnosis is harder and dependent on observation and behaviour and it appears that a broken arm was not something that you had seen signs of immediately either.

I hope she is healing well, good luck.

[handsfull]

What STBG said.

[Sassy Girl]

Contact the NSW Health Care Complaints Commission first off and see what they say. Hopefully they will help you.

http://www.hccc.nsw.gov.au/Home/default.aspx

[SMforshort]

I don't think you need to contact a lawyer.

In your place I would write to the Director of Clinical Governance at the Hospital. Tell them about the missed fracture and ask that this be brought to the attention of the attending doctor/s. Ask for these doctors to have counselling or further education about assessing young children for injuries following an accident. Ask to be advised of what action was taken.

I think it is great that you are using your experience to educate so that this doctor doesn't make the same mistake again.

[belinda1976]

It's not Ryde Hospital is it? They misdiagnosed DH's badly broken ankle.... he had to get metal plates and screws put in his ankle, that's how bad it was... and they didn't pick it up from his X-rays.

I agree with SMforshort - I don't think you need to involve lawyers etc but I'd definatley be writing a letter to the head of the hospital.

This post has been edited by belinda1976: 21/01/2013, 08:40 PM