Last updated on April 6th, 2017 at 02:08 pm

No treatment necessary

The girl, who we will refer to as Miss A and who was 3 years old at the time, had been suffering from a pain in her left ear and high temperature for a couple of days. Thinking it was a minor infection, her parents treated her with paracetamol, but when the pain got worse after 2 days, they took her to the accident and emergency (A & E) department of Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Noting the redness in Miss A’s ear, a doctor told her parents that she did indeed have an ear infection but no treatment was necessary as the eardrum would perforate itself and relieve the pain and infection. Miss A’s parents were told to treat her with paracetamol and ibuprofen and to return in two days if the child got no better. In fact her condition worsened over the next couple of days but in another visit to A & E, her parents were given the same advice again – despite requesting antibiotics.

Deteriorating condition

Miss A’s condition deteriorated over the next 4 or 5 days. She was vomiting, not eating or sleeping and her temperature increased. Her parents took her to a walk in medical centre and she was prescribed amoxicillin. Despite the antibiotics, however, 7 days after the infection appeared to have started, Miss A was very ill and had developed a lump beneath her left ear. Screaming with pain and with a very high temperature, Miss A’s parents took her to see her GP, who referred her to Sheffield Children’s Hospital. Her parents took her there immediately.

Infection could have been life threatening

Doctors in A & E appeared very concerned with Miss A’s condition. Blood tests were taken and x-ray and ultrasound tests concluded that she had a mastoid infection that had reached her bone and which could have reached her brain – risking leading to life threatening meningitis – if her parents had taken her in any later.

The following day doctors informed Miss A’s parents that the antibiotics were not working and that she would need an operation to drain the infection and fit a grommet to reduce recurrence. The operation was carried out later that day under general anaesthetic.   Miss A, who was very upset by the procedure, was in hospital for several days during which time it became clear that she had significantly reduced hearing in her left ear – which also upset her.

Hospital admits it should have done more

The head ENT consultant at the hospital told Miss A’s parents that he thought the hospital should have done more to treat the child and that antibiotics should have been prescribed after she had the infection for 24 hours.   He said he had informed A & E staff of this and that it wouldn’t happen again. Unfortunately that did not help Miss A, who continued to be upset when discharged 3 or 4 days later, with hearing in her left ear virtually nil.

Incident and deafness caused further effects

As well as the loss of hearing, the injury affected Miss A in several ways. Her nursery teacher informed her parents that she was like a different child – normally lively and sociable, she had become quiet, isolated and less confident. Her parents noticed the same changes. She has also become more susceptible to infection and doctors believe that her immune system many have been weakened due to the infection and strong antibiotics.

Several hospital reviews following the operation showed that Miss A’s hearing had been severely reduced, but not entirely absent. However, around 10 months later, tests confirmed that she had completely lost hearing in her left ear. Miss A’s parents paid privately for a second opinion, but it was the same and confirmed that she was now deaf in her left ear. A recent report confirms that the delay in prescribing antibiotics has caused irreversible hearing loss to Miss A.

Parents seek redress for medical negligence

Believing that their daughter had suffered substandard treatment and that her loss of hearing could have been prevented had the hospital acted more quickly, Miss A’s parents contacted Graysons.

We contacted the hospital, which admitted liability from the beginning but offered compensation of only £22,000 to start – far less than we thought was acceptable. Careful and practiced negotiation skills enabled us to have the offer raised to £34,000, which was accepted by Miss A’s parents.

The compensation covered various issues, such as:

• Pain, suffering and loss of amenity
• Medical care and attention
• Time and travelling costs
• Possible disadvantage in the future labour market

If you, or your child, suffer as a result of negligent care in a hospital – or indeed by any medical professional, you may be entitled to claim compensation. Please read our web pages for more information, or contact our experts for a confidential consultation to discuss your case.