A tragic incident unfolded where a 15-year-old girl lost her life to meningitis when an ambulance service allegedly neglected to transport her to the hospital, as revealed during an inquest. Zara Cheesman, hailing from Mapperley Park, Nottingham, should have been swiftly taken to the hospital by East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) personnel before she succumbed on December 23 the previous year, according to Nottingham Coroner’s Court. The young student had visited the A&E on December 20 with symptoms like vomiting, neck, and shoulder pain, only to be discharged with a suspected case of norovirus.
The following day, two ambulance technicians, who were not registered paramedics, arrived at Zara’s residence where she exhibited alarming signs of meningitis such as confusion and a severe headache.
The inquest disclosed that technicians were required to seek guidance from a senior clinical lead if deciding against hospitalizing anyone under 18, a protocol overlooked in Zara’s case. Past testimonies indicated that Zara might have survived had she been readmitted to the hospital.
Susan Jevons, EMAS’s head of patient safety, extended sincere apologies to Zara’s family and committed to implementing changes to avert similar tragedies. She acknowledged the organization’s failure in Zara’s case and emphasized the importance of staff adherence to policies, which are disseminated as bulletins requiring confirmation of comprehension by clinicians. Despite claims of unawareness by the attending technicians, Jevons pointed out that one technician, Michael Hoy, a qualified professional, had acknowledged reading the protocol.
During her testimony, Jevons stressed the clinicians’ responsibility to comprehend and adhere to organizational policies, highlighting the necessity of ensuring proper care for under-18 patients. The correlation between Zara’s prior hospital visit and the subsequent fatal outcome was underscored, emphasizing the established policy for technicians to consult with registered clinicians before discharging minors.
Jevons mentioned that no similar incidents had occurred post-Zara’s demise, with all children requiring hospitalization subsequently transported by ambulance crews. She concluded her statement by expressing regret to Zara’s family and reiterating the commitment to enforcing significant changes to prevent future mishaps.
The inquest’s evidentiary phase concluded on Friday, with the coroner expected to deliver the verdict on Wednesday afternoon.