A legal battle is underway as a mother seeks justice following the tragic death of her beloved toddler, who succumbed to sepsis just a day after being dismissed with a “virus” diagnosis by healthcare professionals at an overwhelmed A&E unit. The heartbroken mother, Jemma Graham, rushed her three-year-old daughter, Penny Stevens, to St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester on December 3, 2022.
The hospital staff, reportedly under immense strain due to a surge of patients and a Strep A outbreak, struggled to provide timely care to Penny, who exhibited symptoms like a chesty cough, high temperature, vomiting, and a rash in the days leading up to her passing. Despite seeking urgent medical attention following advice from NHS 111, the overwhelmed hospital could not promptly triage Penny, even though she showed signs of deteriorating health.
After a prolonged wait and incorrect assessment documentation by medical staff, Jemma decided to take Penny home. Tragically, Penny’s condition worsened rapidly overnight, prompting another emergency call and a subsequent ambulance transfer to the hospital. Despite paramedics’ efforts to revive her, Penny passed away from Group A Strep sepsis.
An investigation revealed that a sepsis screening tool had flagged concerning signs during Penny’s initial assessment, indicating a missed opportunity for urgent intervention. Subsequently, Jemma has initiated legal action against the Hospital Trust, represented by medical negligence lawyers, to seek accountability for the lapses in Penny’s care and to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Expressing profound grief and a desire for awareness about sepsis symptoms, Jemma emphasized the need for learning from this heartbreaking loss to safeguard other families from enduring similar pain. She highlighted concerns about the healthcare system’s challenges and called for improved conditions for both patients and medical staff. Jemma’s quest for justice aims to ensure that all aspects of Penny’s care are scrutinized and improved to prevent such devastating outcomes in the future.