Doctors panic mother with measles error

August 21, 2002

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Doctors panic mother with measles error Aug 21 2002

By Patsy Payne, Epsom Post

PARENTS were sent into a panic over a measles outbreak after two doctors

separately misdiagnosed a sick toddler taken to Epsom's Accident and

Emergency unit.

Anxious single mum, Kew, was told by the casualty doctors that her

three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Saskia had measles. But later the same

day a GP diagnosed the illness as a simple virus.

has complained to health chiefs at Epsom and St Helier Trust about her

daughter's treatment, and they have promised to investigate the incident.

The trauma began when found ulcers suddenly in and around Saskia's

mouth.

She immediately phoned the doctor, but could not get an appointment with her

GP and took the first available emergency appointment with another at

4.30pm. When the rash became worse she started to panic and rushed the

little girl down to Epsom A & E.

On arrival at the Dorking Road hospital, was seen almost immediately.

" The doctor looked in her mouth and ears and told me he thought it was

measles. I was petrified. My brother was in hospital for six weeks with

measles and I know the dangers. "

The doctor called a colleague for a second opinion, and he confirmed the

measles diagnosis. But was unhappy that the second doctor did not

appear to give Saskia an examination.

When she got home she alerted other parents to the hospital's diagnosis.

She said: " I phoned the pre-school and warned them, because a number of the

mothers there, like me, are doubtful about the full MMR.

" They in turn phoned their friends who might have been mixing with their

children and so on. "

But it was during the 4.30pm appointment that was shocked to hear

Saskia did not have measles but a virus called hands, foot and mouth, which

only lasts a few days. , who lives on Lambert Road, Banstead, has now

made a formal complaint to the health authority.

Epsom and St Helier NHS Trust promised a " full and thorough investigation "

once it receives the official complaint.

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