Ipswich: total 4 suspected meningitis deaths - Update: Ipswich Hospital made changes to their practices

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Re: Ipswich: total 3 suspected meningitis deaths

Re: Ipswich: total 3 suspected meningitis deaths

They don't seem to be in a hurry...

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/conten...=xDefault&itemid=IPED07 Jan 2010 16:30:50:383

Meningitis deaths results due next month

Last updated: 1/8/2010 12:00:00 PM



Kyron Vince and Rhianna Warner
IPSWICH: Major investigations into the deaths of two children, believed to have died from meningitis-related infections, will be completed next month ?while the case of a third child who died from the disease is being looked at.

Three youngsters, Ellie Parsons, Rhianna Warner and Kyron Vince, died within three weeks of each other after it is believed they were struck by the deadly disease.

Both Ellie and Rhianna died at Ipswich Hospital so it has launched a SUDOC [sudden death of child] investigation. Kyron was transferred from Ipswich to Addenbrooke's Hospital where he died, and his case, along with the other two, will be assessed by the Child Death Overview Panel, under the county council's Suffolk Safeguarding Children Board.

Ellie, aged 11-months, of Felixstowe Road, died on December 14. Then on New Year's Eve, two-year-old toddler Rhianna, of Damselfly Road, died suddenly after suffering symptoms of meningitis and a day later, her playmate Kyron Vince, of Hawke Road, also died within a few hours of becoming ill.


Ellie Parsons
A post mortem on Ellie's body revealed that the cause of death was meningococcal septicemia (meningococcal is a serious infection which can cause meningitis or septicemia).

Jan Rowsell, Ipswich Hospital spokesman said: ?We are conducting two formal investigations led by a senior colleagues, who are independent. The rigorous process aims to leave no stone unturned. There is an expectation that everyone involved is interviewed and gives evidence. One of the major reasons is to be able to answer the families' questions. If there is anything identified that shows we could improve or any lessons to be learned, then there is an action plan.?

The investigations are expected to last up to 40 days.

A spokesman for Suffolk County council said: ?Any child death in Suffolk is assessed by the panel and questioned whether it could be preventable.?

Do you know of anyone who has been suspected of having meningitis over the last few weeks? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

 

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Re: Ipswich: total 3 suspected meningitis deaths

Re: Ipswich: total 3 suspected meningitis deaths

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/conten...=xDefault&itemid=IPED10 Jan 2010 17:18:03:097

Grieving mum's message of sympathy

Last updated: 1/11/2010 3:00:00 PM



Elaine Platts
KESGRAVE: It has been nearly nine years since Elaine Platts lost her beloved son to meningitis - but she still thinks of him everyday.

Today, the 45-year-old told how the recent deaths of three Ipswich children had brought back painful memories after she went through the same ordeal in 2001 when Travis died within 24 hours of getting meningitis symptoms.

The youngster was two weeks short of his third birthday when he struck by the deadly disease on July 24 [2001].

He started complaining of a sore knee and just hours later he was lying in a hospital bed with a fatal rash spreading across his body.


Travis Platts
Mrs Platts, of Cambridge Road, Kesgrave, sent her condolences to the families of 11-month-old Ellie Parsons, and two-year-olds Rhianna Warner and Kyron Vince, who all died from suspected meningitis.

Mrs Platts, who has a 15-year-old daughter, Amber, said: ?Losing a child to this horrific illness is unbearable. But I strongly believe it is better to have loved, than never to have loved at all.

?I had nine months off work. My head was all over the place but I tried to get back to normal for Amber. The worst thing was people used to cross the street to avoid talking to me as they didn't know what to say.

?You somehow find the strength to get through it. I couldn't have done it without my family and friends. I would say to these parents, do not blame yourself. I used to but there is nothing I could have done.

?I still have very bad days. There is not a day goes by that I do not think of him.?

Travis had just completed a term at playschool and was a typical mischievous toddler. The family still regularly talk about him to keep his memory alive.

Mrs Platts, 45, who is now a court manager at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court in Ipswich, added: ?You never think it is going to happen to you. My outlook on life has changed. It makes you appreciate everyone in your life.

?I would say to these families, they are in my thoughts, and although the years have passed and my life has changed dramatically, memories of our loved ones never fade.?

Have you suffered a bereavement and want to pay tribute to your loved one? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

 

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Re: Ipswich: total 3 suspected meningitis deaths

Re: Ipswich: total 3 suspected meningitis deaths

Apparently that hospital isn't doing too well.

http://www.eveningstar.co.uk/conten...=xDefault&itemid=IPED22 Jan 2010 11:50:32:247

Hospital 'too busy' to treat sick boy

Last updated: 1/23/2010 3:00:00 PM


IPSWICH: An angry mother who suspected her son had meningitis has made an official complaint after she was forced to drive the sick six-year-old to Colchester Hospital for treatment.

Nicki Collett, from the Pinewood area in Ipswich, was frantic when son Jay woke in the middle of the night with a stiff neck, cold feet and a high temperature.

The mum-of-two was on high alert because of the recent suspected meningitis deaths of three Ipswich children - Ellie Parsons, Rhianna Warner and Kyron Vince.

Mrs Collett used a checklist poster produced for parents by The Evening Star which lists the symptoms of the brain disease before calling the out-of-hours service.

She was told to attend the Riverside Clinic in Ipswich, where she was seen by a nurse practitioner who checked Jay over told Mrs Collett to take him to Colchester Hospital - rather than nearby Ipswich Hospital which was too busy to treat the youngster.

The 31-year-old drove to Colchester where it was later confirmed he had severe tonsillitis.

She said: ?I cannot bear to think what would have happened if it was meningitis. We called the out-of-hours service at 2am but by the time we got to the hospital and it was discovered to be tonsillitis it must have been around 6am.

?If it was meningitis, it only takes a short time to become serious. I couldn't believe we had to go to Colchester. What if we had broken down or been in an accident on the way??

A spokesman for Take Care Now, the private firm which runs the Riverside Clinic, said: ?Within five minutes Nicki was spoken to by a GP on the telephone and in approximately one hour and 30 minutes she was seen by an experienced nurse practitioner.

?We have received a formal complaint from Nicki Collett and are carrying out a full investigation.?

Jan Rowsell, Ipswich Hospital spokeswoman, said: ?We were incredibly busy that night because there were so many children in hospital.

?It was an exceptional circumstance.?

Do you know someone who has had meningitis and has a story to tell? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.

 

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Re: Ipswich: total 4 suspected meningitis deaths - at least 2 confirmed

Re: Ipswich: total 4 suspected meningitis deaths - at least 2 confirmed

OK. So two of the first three have been confirmed as type B meningococcal meningitis. The third one tested negative, but had contact with the second case. They claim he might have died of natural causes, but that would be a strange coincidence. I think it is reasonable to believe he died of type B meningitis as well.

And now there is a fourth death, an adult. No word on test results on this one.

http://www.eadt.co.uk/content/eadt/...=xDefault&itemid=IPED28 Jan 2010 21:58:57:373

Fourth person dies of meningitis

Last updated: 1/29/2010 3:00:00 PM



Kyron Vince
IPSWICH: Health officials today revealed there has been a FOURTH Ipswich death in the meningitis scare which gripped the town in December and January.

Three of the suspected victims were children but now it has emerged that an adult from Ipswich died from the disease while on holiday.

And in a development which has baffled one set of parents, doctors have said they cannot pinpoint meningitis as the cause of their tragedy.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) today said the latest case was not connected with earlier deaths and was a different strain of the disease. The victim fell ill while on holiday earlier this month.


Ellie Parsons
The Evening Star previously reported how youngsters Ellie Parsons and Rhianna Warner were struck down by meningitis within the space of three weeks over the New Year period.

A third child, Kyron Vince, who was a playmate of Rhianna, died during the same period. However, medics claim the youngster died as a result of other complications.

The HPA has received laboratory results from tests for meningitis, which they claim confirm Ellie and Rhianna tested positive for group B meningococcal disease. Both Ellie and Rhianna had a common strain of the bacteria, which could not be vaccinated against, and there was no link between their cases.

Kyron's test results proved to be negative, despite the fact that he had been in regular contact with Rhianna who died just hours before him. Kyron, who had other medical complications, died at Addenbrooke's Hospital.


Kyron with Rhianna Parsons
Vicky Holland, Kyron's distraught mother, said: “It makes it worse that they are saying he did not die from meningitis.

“They are saying it was natural causes but we cannot believe that. Now we do not know why he died.”

Both Rhianna and Ellie died at Ipswich Hospital. The hospital is continuing to investigate the cases, which are being treated as “serious untoward incidents”.

Peter Bradley, director of public health at NHS Suffolk, said: “We would normally expect to see one death (from meningitis) a year. “Within a couple of weeks, we saw four deaths from meningitis disease. Having completed investigation work, we haven't found any concern with the clinical management.”

There will not be an inquest into the death of the adult. A date has not yet been set for the inquests into the death of the children.

Those seeking advice on meningitis symptoms should call their GP, phone NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or call the Meningitis Trust which has a 24-hour nurse-led helpline on 0800 0281828.

Do you know of anyone who has been suspected of having meningitis over the last few weeks? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.



The deaths of toddlers Ellie Parsons, Rhianna Warner and Kyron Vince over the Christmas and New Year period sent a shockwave through Ipswich.

The youngsters all lived in the east of the town and died within three weeks of each other.

Despite the geographical closeness of their deaths and the fact that Rhianna and Kyron were close friends, health chiefs denied that their deaths were linked.

Ellie, of Felixstowe Road, died on December 14. The 11-month-old was taken to Ipswich Hospital by parents Darren Parsons and Kirsty Ludlow.

After being told she was well enough to go home her condition deteriorated and could not be revived.

Rhianna, of Damselfly Road, was just two-and-a half when she passed away on New Year's Eve.

She was taken to Ipswich Hospital after developing a high temperature and appearing to be constipated.

Her parents Danielle Watchman and Ben Warner criticised a decision by staff not to carry out a blood test which they felt would have revealed her true condition.

Rhianna's friend Kyron, who lived with parents Vicky Holland and Mark Vince in Hawke Road, lost his battle for life at Addenbrooke's Hospital on January 1. Kyron was taken to the Cambridge hospital after becoming ill early on New Year's Eve.

 

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Ipswich: total 4 suspected meningitis deaths - Update: Ipswich Hospital made changes to their practices

Ipswich: Hospital forced to make changes after toddler?s meningitis death

Tuesday, 11 January, 2011
15:21 PM

IPSWICH: Ipswich Hospital has today admitted at an inquest that they made changes to their practices in light of the death of a two-year-old girl from meningitis.
...

Dr Dean said in summary it would have been wiser to admit Rhianna due to the time of her discharge. If she had been admitted the chance of detecting her worsening symptoms would have been greater. She developed a widespread rash by 7.27am when her parents took her back to A&E and had the rash been noticed, antibiotics would have been given, it was heard.

Dr Pravin Desai, consultant paediatrician, agreed. However he said it is impossible to know if the outcome would have been different.

He added that now they make every effort to keep a child in Rhianna?s condition in hospital if it is the middle of the night, unless there is an acute bed shortage ? in which case NICE guidelines are followed and advice is given. Parents also have open access to bring children back to hospital.

Full text:
http://www.eadt.co.uk/news/ipswich_...ges_after_toddler_s_meningitis_death_1_771123