Noosa Hospital’s internal investigation into the death of four-year-old Summer Smith after she swallowed a lithium battery has been described by a coroner as scant.
Coroner John Hutton told the inquest the hospital’s three-page self-titled report into Summer’s death was not comprehensive enough and did not match the disaster that occurred.
He also said the hospital’s investigation was like mates checking on mates.
Summer swallowed the button battery in June 2013.
She was twice admitted and discharged from Noosa Hospital on June 13 and 17 with a sore stomach, high temperature and black bowel movements.
On the day she died, she suffered a nose bleed and vomited blood before collapsing at home.
She went back to Noosa Hospital and was transferred to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital where she died.
The hospital’s director of clinical services, Judith Beazley, agreed with the coroner that the internal probe was scant.
But she disagreed with Mr Hutton’s assertion that a more comprehensive case review in May this year was sparked by the impending inquest.
X-ray would have revealed battery, inquest told
Summer’s mother and four doctors have given evidence at the inquest.
Yesterday, the inquest heard the little girl was tragically misdiagnosed when she was examined at the Noosa Hospital.
It was also told if an emergency x-ray had been taken doctors would have known she’d swallowed the button battery.
Coroner Hutton was critical of family GP Doctor Andrew Spall who first examined Summer two weeks before her death.
He said Dr Spall’s notes could only be described as appalling.