Doctor 'expected to be contacted'

Published Tuesday, 16 October 2012
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The Consultant Paediatrician looking after Claire Roberts, whose death is being investigated by the Hyponatraemia inquiry, has said she would have returned to the hospital if she had been contacted.

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Nine-year-old Claire was admitted to the Royal Hospital on 21 October 1996, suffering from vomiting and drowsiness.

She died two days later.

Her death and that of four other children is now being examined by the inquiry.

Hyponatraemia, a condition caused by not having enough sodium in the body's fluids, was linked to her death.

Dr Steen said on the afternoon before Claire died she wasn't in the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, instead she was at Cupar Street Community Clinic.

She said junior staff in the children's hospital were trained that if they are unsure they should either speak to or phone a consultant, and that her expectation was one would get into more trouble for not phoning than phoning.

At Banbridge courthouse, the doctor said she would have expected to be contacted at the clinic by the paediatric registrar, because she said "he had a sick child who was getting worse and he had gone looking for a neurologist".

"I may have not been able to respond immediately, but I would've rang later," she said.

Also giving evidence on Tuesday was Dr Roger Stevenson, who in 1996 was one of the junior doctors who helping to care for Claire, accepted he didn't follow the medical guidelines for administering a powerful drug to Claire on the afternoon before she died.

The senior counsel to the inquiry asked Dr Stevenson- "Did you not think you needed more guidance?"

The doctor replied: "I can't remember."

The chairman intervened, asking as he had only been in paediatrics for three months and the child's condition was getting worse- "Did it not occur to you you needed help?"

Dr Stevenson replied: "I was busy doing what I was asked to do and I may not have reflected enough on the seriousness of Claire's condition."

The inquiry continues.

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