A BABY boy was found dead less than 48 hours after he was discharged from hospital with a rash and his parents told to give him Calpol.
Olly Stopforth’s parents Karl and Laura became worried when a rash spread across the 15-month-old’s face and torso in March 2020.
Family handoutOlly Stopforth died just 48 hours after being discharged from hospital[/caption]
Family handoutHis parents became worried after a rash spread over his face and torso[/caption]
The tot, from Frodsham in Cheshire, also had a high temperature and made grunting noises with heavy breathing.
His parents had a video call with a GP who advised them to give Olly Calpol and Ibuprofen.
Later the same day an ambulance was called and paramedics recorded a temperature of 40 degrees and a heart rate of 207.
On the way to the hospital, the ambulance driver radioed ahead with a “code red” warning about Olly’s condition.
After a six-hour wait in A&E, one nurse feared his sandpaper-rough rash was a symptom of scarlet fever.
But the baby, who had been placed on an adult hospital bed, was discharged less than four hours later at 3.30am with a diagnosis of a viral illness.
Doctors said that Olly’s parents should carry on giving him Calpol and Ibuprofen.
Their medical notes recorded that Olly was bright and not struggling to breathe normally, which his family disputes.
Olly’s mum Laura Stopforth, 40, found him dead in his bed at 12.15am on March 23, 2020 – less than 48 hours after he was discharged.
His dad Karl Stopforth claimed that doctors failed to carry out a “hands on” check on his son.
The Countess of Chester Hospital has admitted liability for Olly’s death.
MUM’S PAIN
Tearful Laura told an inquest at Cheshire Coroner’s Court: “I went into Olly’s room and I just knew that he had passed away.
“I picked him up and ran to the top of the stairs and shouted at Karl to ring an ambulance.
“Karl came up and grabbed Olly and then immediately passed him back and ran to call an ambulance.
“I am a trained first aider and tried CPR with the ambulance person on the phone giving instructions until paramedics arrived.”
She added: “Olly was such a lively, energetic, happy boy and a lovely younger brother to our eight year old son Finley who desperately misses him.
“I cannot describe the trauma and disbelief that followed finding our baby boy Olly had passed away in his sleep less than 48 hours after being discharged with what we were led to believe was something relatively minor.
“Finley does not understand why his little brother is no longer with us.
“He regularly tells us that he feels lonely and is being provided with counselling support in school.
“This should not have happened.
“The medical staff simply didn’t seem interested in finding out what was really happening to Olly.
“Our little boy has lost his life as a result.”
MISSED CHANCES
Karl added: “The doctors were with him for no longer than ten minutes.
“The doctors did not really talk to me. No-one, doctors or nurses spoke to me about the rash either.
“There was no investigation like blood tests to find the underlying cause of Olly’s illness.
“I think they made their minds up it was a viral infection and stuck with that.”
The family’s lawyer Diane Rostron said: “Olly lost his life because the doctors and nurses who were trusted with his care that day neglected to investigate what was causing his obvious symptoms.
“They failed to treat the serious illness from which he was suffering.
“He was clearly very unwell by the time he was taken by ambulance that day, as had been correctly identified by the paramedics.
“But this urgent situation was not treated as such and he had to wait in the emergency department for several hours.
“No attempt was made to identify the source of his illness. No blood or urine tests were undertaken.
“We believe that Olly had scarlet fever, his presentation was in keeping with this illness. Antibiotics would have saved his life.”
The inquest continues.
Family handoutThe Countess of Chester hospital has admitted liability for Olly’s death[/caption]