Mother says ill son sent home by A&E

A Shropshire mother says her six-year-old son was wrongly sent home from hospital while suffering appendicitis after doctors diagnosed him with colic and a bowel spasm.

Zachary Churm was taken to the accident and emergency department of Princess Royal Hospital in Telford by his mother, Sabrina Churm, after he complained of having pains in his abdomen last Wednesday.

Mrs Sturm, of Oakengates, Telford, said that Zachary was seen by a doctor and nurse at the PRH, where she had been sent by her family doctor.

But she said that she was then told to take the youngster home. She said: “I just felt the team in A&E should have got a paediatrician to see him or taken some blood tests.”

Mrs Sturm and her son spent three hours in the accident and emergency department before being told to go home.

When the pain persisted, Mrs Sturm called an ambulance late on Wednesday night and was advised to take Zachary back to the hospital, where it was later confirmed that he had appendicitis.

Zachary had an operation to remove the appendix early on Thursday morning and is now recovering at home.

A spokesman for The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust said: “While we cannot comment specifically on this case, the trust aims to provide patients with the right care in the right place at the right time.

“Diagnosing appendicitis can be difficult as it can easily be confused with other conditions, especially when a patient shows none of the common symptoms, such as a high temperature, vomiting and hardening of the abdominal muscles.

“We would encourage anyone who has any comments or concerns about the treatment they or a family member has received to contact the trust, or the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS),so that any issues can be discussed directly,” he added.

Mrs Sturm added: “I can’t grumble at all about the treatment after he was diagnosed, the staff on the children’s ward were great.

“This sort of thing is why I normally take my children to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.”