News

HEADLINES:

Boy, five, dies of chickenpox after hospital sends him home

Sophie Goodchild, Health Editor
15.05.08

A five-year-old boy died of chickenpox after doctors sent him home, telling his father he was fine.

Ricardo Nunes took his son Fabio to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill where, he claims, he was told his son was all right even though he was "unable to walk or talk".

Three days later, with his condition worsening, Fabio was taken back to hospital where doctors said he had only six hours to live. Fabio died of multiple organ failure at the Evelina Children's Hospital at Guy's and St Thomas' 14 days later.

Mr Nunes, who lives with wife, Anna, 35, and children Patrick, 10, and Olivia, two, in Redhill, said today: "I strongly believe if East Surrey Hospital had checked him properly he would be alive today."

Fabio died on 1 March. Mr Nunes, a chef, said: "I had just given him his last kiss, we were praying he'd be okay. Two minutes later the doctors stepped away from him and it all went quiet."

He said: "Fabio was such a happy boy, he always had a smile."

A spokesman for Surrey & Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust said: "We are carrying out a full and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding Fabio's care and condition."

Link to:

Reader views (2)

Add your view

Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.

It is really a sad story. But I am not surprised that many doctors in this country know only a bit of everything. 3 GPs failed to diagnose our son with a severe skin infection. The only thing your are being told I don't think it is serious.

Go private and probably you'll be on the safe side.

- M. Vogel, London

This story is so sad and also disgusting!
How inept are our doctors?

- Stuart Sloane, London, UK