A 16-year-old girl died of meningitis just 48 hours after being discharged from a hospital emergency department, an inquest has heard. Isabel Gentry was sent home from the Bristol Royal Infirmary despite complaining of severe headache, vomiting, and fainting while studying for her AS exams.
The inquest in Bristol heard that Isabel's mother, Claire Booty, had shown doctors a letter from her daughter's college warning about meningitis, but was told it was 'just a virus'. Isabel was discharged in the early hours of the morning, only to be readmitted 24 hours later when her condition worsened. She died in intensive care on May 20 last year after an MRI scan revealed irrecoverable brain swelling.
Ms Booty told the inquest that she had raised concerns about meningitis with a call operator, paramedics, and doctors. She said: 'Given the symptoms were flu-like, I was given no guidance about what to look out for if her condition deteriorated. Isabel wasn't given a chance.'
Paramedics Gary White and Christian Chambers of South West Ambulance Service took Isabel to hospital. Ms Booty said they appeared 'understandably reluctant' to examine her because she was a teenage girl. After being admitted at 1am, Isabel was seen by a doctor who sent her home after five hours, although she could hardly walk to her mother's car.
Ms Booty added: 'I was concerned that the examination was not particularly thorough and that the doctor was distracted. The school letter we had seemed to make no difference to the risk assessment which was undertaken.' Nurses reassured them it was 'just a virus' and she would recover in a couple of days. Isabel struggled to walk to the car and said: 'I can't believe they're sending me home Mum, I feel so ill.'
The following day, Ms Booty phoned her GP surgery at 5.10pm but was told it was too late for a home visit. Due to Isabel's worsening condition, she called for an ambulance at 5.30pm. The inquest continues.
