Heartbroken mum Jemma Graham recalled how her three-year-old daughter tragically died despite being told by doctors at a busy A&E surgery that she “probably had a virus”
A mother is taking legal action after her “beautiful” toddler tragically died a day after being told she “probably had a virus” by NHS doctors.
Three-year-old Penny Stevens passed away from sepsis following a “missed opportunity” to refer her for urgent care at an “overwhelmingly busy” A&E surgery. Grieving mum Jemma Graham took her daughter to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester on December 3, 2022.
Staff were said to be under “immense pressure” that day, with one nurse comparing the West Sussex medical facility to a “third world country” as a result of panic over a reported Strep A outbreak.
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In the three days leading to her death, little Penny suffered with a chesty cough, a high temperature, vomiting and a rash. This prompted Jemma to ring NHS 111, who advised the little one should be taken to hospital promptly.
Upon arriving at St Richard’s, they were told she might not be seen for several hours as the department struggled to cope with the surge of patients. Penny, who also had a high temperature as well as a raised heart and respiratory rate, should have been triaged within 15 minutes of attending hospital.
“We took her to hospital on the advice of NHS 111 after she became poorly, but the department was clearly overwhelmed,” said Jemma. “I was told she was probably suffering from a virus and, as to me the staff didn’t seem concerned that there was anything more sinister going on.”
Bungling medics, however, are claimed to have incorrectly recorded ‘no’ as an answer to whether the infant was sleepy, lethargic or irritable, despite having to be held by her mother. Concerned by the long wait, Jemma took her daughter home, but Penny’s condition would deteriorate rapidly overnight.
In the early hours of the next day, the worried mum called 999 and Penny was taken to hospital by an ambulance, where she died of cardiac arrest shortly after her arrival. Paramedics did all they could to resuscitate the toddler, with their life-saving attempts lasting a whole 80 minutes, before she died of Group A Strep sepsis.
Jemma continued: “I made the decision to take her home rather than keeping her waiting in the hospital, which was absolutely manic at the time. Hours later, she was gone. Due to the sepsis, Penny went downhill so rapidly, and our world collapsed.
“What followed has broken us as a family in ways that nobody should ever have to endure. We remain devastated by Penny’s death and are left wondering if more could have been done that night to help her.”
A report has now found that a sepsis screening tool used during her initial assessment “recorded signs that should have triggered an urgent review”. The Patient Safety Investigation Report by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust confirmed: “The opportunity for escalating for an urgent sepsis assessment was missed.”
Jemma has since instructed medical negligence lawyers to launch legal action against the Trust following the tragedy. Laura Hayes-Payne, the medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Penny’s mum, said: “Jemma remains devastated by the incredibly tragic circumstances surrounding Penny’s death. The Hospital Trust’s own investigation report has identified worrying issues in the care Penny received, including not recognising signs of sepsis or referring her for an urgent review.
“Jemma continues to have concerns about what happened to her daughter. All she wants is to ensure that all possible issues in Penny’s care are identified and acknowledged by the Trust, and that lessons are learnt so that other families don’t have to endure what she and her family have.”
Jemma added: “I don’t blame the staff on duty that night. They were working in impossible circumstances. My concerns lie with the system and the conditions that both patients and medical staff have to face.
“I’d do anything to have Penny back with us and want every parent to know the signs of sepsis. I don’t blame the staff on duty that night. They were working in impossible circumstances.
“My concerns lie with the system and the conditions that both patients and medical staff have to face.I’d do anything to have Penny back with us and want every parent to know the signs of sepsis.”