Decision Report 201809858

Summary

Mrs C complained that the care her child (Child A) received from the board during their admission for bacterial meningitis (an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) was unreasonable. Mrs C said that Child A was not given the full dose of antibiotics and that the day after discharge they had to be re-admitted as the infection had not been cleared. Mrs C also complained that Child A was given an MRI scan using the feed and wrap technique (use of feeding and swaddling to induce natural sleep in infants), which did not work, rather than performing the test under general anaesthetic.

We took independent advice from a consultant paediatrician (a medical practitioner specialising in children and their diseases). We found that, on review of the medical notes, Child A received the stated course of antibiotics, there were no concerns over the timing of the doses, and it was reasonable for Child A to have been discharged initially. We also found that it was reasonable for Child A to have their MRI using the feed and wrap technique in the first instance. As a result, we did not uphold this aspect of the complaint.

Mrs C also complained that the handling of her complaint was unreasonable. We were satisfied that the board had followed the NHS Complaints Handling Procedure and as a result, did not uphold this aspect of the complaint.