Substantial settlement secured after delayed meningitis diagnosis by GP

Leonard (name changed to protect confidentiality) 

What happened? 

Leonard, a 4 year old child, was taken to his GP on two occasions over the course of a week in December with a prolonged cold, temperature, poor feeding and general irritability. At the first appointment, the GP reassured Leonard’s mother than he was suffering from a cold and told that he needed plenty of rest and fluids to recover. 

Leonard’s condition deteriorated so his mother took him back to the GP 2 days later because his symptoms had worsened, and he was now making an unusual grunting sound as well as irregular head movements. The same GP thought that Leonard had meningitis and told his mother to take him to Hospital for specialist review. 

Leonard’s mother was not a native English speaker. The GP had not made it clear to her that she needed to take Leonard directly to Hospital so she instead went home, made arrangements for child-care for her other child, and then took Leonard to the Hospital some 3 hours later. 

Leonard was diagnosed with pneumococcal meningitis and was almost immediately started on intravenous antibiotics by a specialist paediatrician at the Hospital. This treatment prevented him from suffering catastrophic brain damage, but he did sadly suffer the loss of his hearing in one ear and more subtle problems with his balance. 

The investigation 

We investigated the standard of care provided to Leonard by his GP. An independent GP expert was instructed and reported that the GP should have telephoned the Hospital with her suspected diagnosis; should have arranged for an ambulance to take Leonard directly there and should have made the severity of Leonard’s condition clear to his mother by explaining the urgency of the situation. 

Other experts were instructed and reported that if Leonard had arrived at Hospital earlier, the loss of hearing and balance issues sustained would have been avoided. 

The claim was put to the GP and following their investigation an admission of liability made. The GP negligence compensation secured for Leonard was substantial and will enable him to benefit from hearing aid technology and support and care for life. 

For more information about Meningitis compensation claims click here.