Following a number of stories published by Lincolnshire Reporter over the last few weeks, questions have been raised about work in hospitals to combat both waiting times for children and their diagnoses.
A number of parents have been in touch with reporters to say they are worried that lessons are not being learned at hospitals run by United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (ULHT), with stories of long waiting times and misdiagnosis from Lincoln, Boston and Grantham.
Bad experiences at Lincolnshire’s hospitals
As previously reported, Jessica Mustafa demanded answers from health bosses after she claimed she was forced to wait in A&E for over six hours with her six-week-old son, Maliki who had contracted meningitis.
Jessica said that she was sharing her “horrible” experience in the hope that no-one else would have to suffer what she had endured during her weekend from hell.
Maliki Mustafa. Photo supplied by family
Six-week-old Maliki became ill on Friday, September 15, with symptoms including a fever and blanching spots on his back, neck and arms, however she was still made to wait with her baby for six-and-a-half hours at Lincoln County Hospital.
Maliki was diagnosed with meningitis following blood tests. Following the results coming back, Jessica said that the staff had been “fantastic” and had fully explained everything about the condition.
Andrea Burkill, from Market Rasen has to endure ‘mistakes’ twice with two different children and has said she is concerned lessons are not being learned in Lincolnshire’s hospitals.
Andrea’s daughter Claudia died in 2014 following a brave three-year battle with cancer, which she said was previously diagnosed as a virus at Lincoln County Hospital A&E in 2011.
Claudia on Christmas Day 2013.
Andrea told Lincolnshire Reporter:
“Claudia’s was the biggest misdiagnosis ever.
“My biggest issue with Claudia was not the lumbar puncture or the CT scan but the MRI.
“This scan is incredibly in depth and it was the copy of Lincoln’s scan that I took to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.
“This is where they very first saw her brain tumour.”
To make matters worse, six years on Andrea claims mistakes were made once more when her week-old daughter Aurelia was treated for severe jaundice in March 2017.
Andrea with her youngest daughter Aurelia
In March 2017, Andrea gave birth to Aurelia, and just days later faced another emergency at Lincoln County Hospital.
Andrea added: “The doctor had written her up for double phototherapy to treat her severe jaundice and so she was placed under two machines.
“Several hours later, someone came in and took her off one machine as apparently double meant double tubed machine opposed to two separate machines which was giving her way too much exposure apparently.
“The problem was a miscommunication to what exactly double meant.”
Anna Miller, who works in education and is from Sleaford, also raised her concerns following the initial ‘misdiagnosis’ of her son Joseph’s rash in 2016.
In February 2016, five-year-old Joseph developed symptoms of a stomach bug, including sickness, a high temperature, cold hands and feet and an inability to keep liquids down. He also had a faint rash appearing on his back.
Joseph spent five days in hospital
After being admitted to the paediatric ward at Lincoln County Hospital at registrar ‘dismissed’ the rash as a virus. After blood tests were taken following Anna and her husband’s aired concerns, Joseph was diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia Type B (meningitis).
Following the diagnosis, Anna said staff at the hospital were ‘fantastic’ but she is worried that parents’ views and concerns about the health of their children are not taken seriously enough by some medical professionals.
Simon Evans director of operations at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust said: “We appreciate coming to A&E can be very worrying and stressful, especially when you are with a young child.
“Our team work extremely hard to see and treat everyone as quickly as possible and we are sorry that some patients have to wait longer during really busy times when we have very poorly people in the department.
“We are always looking at ways we can reduce waits for patients.
“Over the next few weeks we will be improving a number of aspects in A&E including having additional specialist doctors working within the department.
“We expect this to improve the service we offer to all patients, including children.
“We have also agreed with the hospital’s paediatrics team that during busy times in the night, the A&E teams will be able to refer young patients to them directly and patients will not be required to wait for an A&E doctor to see them first.
“Statistics show over the last year the number of young people seen and treated within the 4 hour national standard has risen from 90% up to 93% demonstrating some of the improvements we have already made.
“I would like to reassure everyone we will continue to make improvements in our A&Es and expect the changes we make will further reduce waiting times and overcrowding in the department.”
Sarah is a News Reporter at The Lincolnite. You can contact her directly with your news via email at [email protected]
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The former Curiosity Shop in Lincoln is set to reopen as new bar Be At One.
Stonegate Pub Group have been given approval for a major refurbishment to the front, interior and courtyard of the cocktail bar.
The Curiosity Shop closed in February after being unable to renew the lease on the premies at the top of Lincoln High Street.
The makeover will include new furniture, bar, pillars and flooring to the interior.
The owners also plan to replace the outdoor pergola and install a new drinks shelf and courtyard surfacing.
Be At One has dozens of locations in the south of England, but this will be the first for Lincolnshire.
The application which was submitted for the location says: “As with all commercial hospitality and leisure facilities such as this, the applicant needs to continually refresh and enhance its customer offer and attraction at this public house, in order to remain commercially viable and the application proposals should be considered within this context.
How the inside of Be At One could look | Photo: Stonegate Pub Group
“The continued commercial viability of these commercial hospitality and leisure premises ensures the continuing maintenance and upkeep of this listed building for a publicly accessible use.
“These proposals would help to facilitate the continuing beneficial and sympathetic use of these premises, which will continue to add to and enhance the vitality and pedestrian footfall within the local street scene and Lincoln city centre in general.”
It says that the customer demand for al fresco facilities has risen following the pandemic, when diners and drinkers were often required to stay outside.
The interior will see a major refurbishment | Photo: Stonegate Pub Group
The Stonegate Pub Group say that the investment in the site will help to mitigate the “continuing difficult economic climate.”
No opening date for the new cocktail bar has been announced yet.
The new owners have also applied for extended opening times to serve alcohol up to 3am.
The Curiosity Shop announced their closure in February, saying they were “incredibly sad”.
A social media post said: “Sadly, we have not been able to renew the lease on the property and after five years of incredible fun with you and yours, it’s time to say goodbye.”
A man allegedly assaulted and verbally abused a member of rail staff after being questioned over having an incorrect ticket.
A member of rail staff on board questioned the man travelling on a train from Lincoln to Leeds with an incorrect ticket at 5.03pm on Tuesday, May 3.
British Transport Police said when the train was stood at Worksop station, the man grabbed his arm and pulled him whilst verbally abusing him. He is then said to have thrown a drink bottle at his leg.
On Wednesday, May 18 British Transport Police released a CCTV image of a man they believe may have information which could help their investigation.
They did not specify whether or not he is a suspect or a witness.
Do you recognise this man? | Photo: British Transport Police
Anyone who recognises the man, or has any information, is being urged to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 516 of 03/05/22.
Alternatively, information can be reported through the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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