News

We often appear in the national media to help journalists with their story. If you are a journalist and you are looking for expert legal comment please call our PR agency, RMS PR in Manchester on 0161 927 3131 or see www.rmspr.co.uk

NHS staff failed to spot baby boy born with ‘floating stomach’

LAWYERS are investigating whether NHS staff failed to detect that a baby was born with a ‘floating stomach’ at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.
 
Harry Dunn-Gillett, who is now 2 years old has suffered from health problems since birth including vomiting, nausea. Staff failed to detect what the problem was on six different occasions. On the seventh occasion Harry was admitted his mother refused to leave the hospital until he was scanned and the problem was found.
 
Harry now suffers from a condition which causes rapid emptying and delayed gastric emptying known as ‘dumping syndrome’. He is still on lots of medication and has problems eating and when he does eat the food is digested very quickly.
 
Victoria Dunn, mother of Harry, said:

“Harry is still poorly after having three operations and has had periods of vomiting, sometimes for months on end. An operation he’s just had (Nissens Fundopolication) has resulted in him never being able to vomit again which can cause problems later on should he develop food poisoning. He still suffers from nausea and gagging mosts nights, a persistent cough and irritable and open bowels shortly after eating. Harry doesn’t sleep through and wakes up often during the night. It is worrying and sad that I have to see Harry suffer so much.
 
“I think the treatment we received at Sidcup was disgraceful They made me feel like I was mad when in fact Harry had a rare condition and needed operations.  I am lucky he is here really as I could have gone home again and who knows what the end result would have been if I was not persistent.”
 
Mark Slater, partner at medical negligence law firm Price & Slater, which represents the family, said:
 
“We will investigate whether the failure to diagnose the condition was negligent and what impact that has had on Harry for the longer term. The family is confident that the Trust’s own internal investigation and our investigation will uncover whether mistakes were made. We’re determined to ensure no stone is left unturned to find out why Harry’s condition wasn’t spotted earlier by medical staff at the hospital.”

< back to previous page