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Mum demands answers after bug scare

31/ 1/2001

LOWER Broughton mum Sarah Edwards is demanding answers after claiming emergency doctors failed to take her meningitis fears seriously.

Toddler Charlie Kovacs, aged three, was eventually rushed to Hope Hospital where scarlet fever, and not the killer bug, was diagnosed. He was then transferred to the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury with a temperature of 40degC.

But an angry Sarah claims the emergency medic from Healthcall did not turn up at her house on Hatton Street for another six hours.

"By that time, Charlie was on a drip and totally delirious. He didn't even recognise who I was," said the furious mum.

Healthcall, however, told The Advertiser they tried to call Sarah back three times, but she had already left for hospital.

Charlie recovered and is now back at home, but his mum says she is not prepared to let the matter rest. The drama unfolded last Monday, after Sarah picked Charlie up from nursery. She thought he was flushed from over-excitedness but later became worried when he complained of headaches. She phoned her own surgery and was given advice and told to phone back if Charlie's condition worsened.

"At 6pm he was covered in red patches and I phoned again but the surgery was closed so I phoned the emergency doctor. They said they would get to me as soon as possible but by 7pm I was sick with worry that he had got meningitis so I rushed him to Hope and then RMCH," said Sarah.

She kept a bedside vigil with him all night while her boyfriend remained in the house with her other son, Jack.

"But," continued Sarah, "It was not until 2.30am the following morning that the emergency doctor turned up. I am furious it took so long to respond and I demand to know why."

A spokesperson for Healthcall said they had received a call from Sarah Edwards at 7.16pm and had told her a doctor would ring back. But, they said, following the call, she had gone to the hospital.

"She left a mobile number and Healthcall tried on three occasions to contact her, but because she was at the hospital and they like mobiles to be turned off, we couldn't contact her. We do normally ask for a landline number but for some reason that wasn't given .

"However, as in all our cases we do a follow-up visit and that was why the doctor turned up at 2am the following morning.We are certainly sorry this situation arose and are very glad to hear Charlie has recovered."