Long delays before Lilli’s death

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The inquest will hear that Lilli Sweet ­experienced long delays in seeing doctors at Namb

The inquest will hear that Lilli Sweet ­experienced long delays in seeing doctors at Nambour Hospital. Her family says she could have been saved if her medical ­history had been taken into account. Source: Supplied

THE death of a six-year-old girl from an “overwhelming infection” allegedly not detected in time by doctors at a regional hospital will be the subject of an inquest.

This follows a request by the parents of Sunshine Coast girl Lilli Sweet, who passed away on August 27, 2013, after being flown to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.

Their ordeal at Nambour Hospital will be put under the microscope by Deputy State Coroner John Lock, who has scheduled a pre-inquest conference for next Tuesday.

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It is understood the inquest will hear that Lilli ­experienced long delays in seeing doctors after nausea, headaches and constant neck pain on August 25, 2013.

The family believes a diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis was wrong, saying signs were missed and she could have been saved if her medical ­history had been taken into account and if the infection had been identified and treated with antibiotics.

Lilli was born on December 4, 2006, and found to have hereditary spherocytosis. Those with this condition experience a shortage of red blood cells, yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), and an enlarged spleen. Lilli was forced to have a splenectomy in 2011.

The Coroner has indicated he will closely analyse the adequacy and appropriateness of health services post this operation, particularly in relation to “managing the long-term risk of overwhelming post-splenectomy infection”.

This ultimately claimed the life of the six-year-old, with the official cause of death being cerebral odema (swelling of the brain) linked to pneumococcal meningitis, a condition predisposed by Lilli’s operation.

She arrived at Nambour Hospital about 11am on August 25 and was not seen by a doctor until 1.30pm.

She was given a bed at 5.15pm, but no doctor on the ward saw her until 9pm.