Dying girl 'ignored' by Birmingham medics - inquest told

Apr 21 2009 by Andy Richards, Birmingham Mail

Dr Ahmad had the most contact with Sian before her death. She had been a junior doctor at the hospital for two years and had started her surgical training at Heartlands just three days before Sian was admitted.

Under questioning from coroner Aidan Cotter she said she had not been made aware of any wheelchair use or calls to relatives in the middle of the night.

She said the surgical team, including two more senior surgeons who are now both working in Australia, attributed the continuing pain to post operation pain from the appendix procedure.

She added: “With the benefit of hindsight I can see that she was getting worse, but at the time it was not so obvious.

“In hindsight all the factors were viewed independently and not together.

“The team thought there was nothing amiss surgically and had been falsely reassured by a CT (x-ray) scan and a review from a paediatric doctor.

“The emotional aspect had been raised to me by my seniors and psychological issues were raised in a conversation with her father.”

(Proceeding)