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Brain tumour boy's mum attacks doctors
By Mark Lavery A GRIEVING mum claims doctors said her six-year-old son was suffering migraines and failed to spot his brain tumour symptoms – for FIVE months.
Teacher Vicky Ringer says she made repeated visits to Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, with her son Levi after he started complaining of headaches in March.
But despite a range of worrying symptoms, she says doctors handed out medication for migraines and failed to recommend the fatally ill youngster for a brain scan until July 20 .
He underwent an emergency operation to remove part of the tumour, which was by now growing down his spine, the day after the scan.
Tragically, Levi died from respiratory failure on August 29.
"My heart is broken," said single mum Ms Ringer, 34, of Stanley, Wakefield.
"I put my trust in the doctors to save my son and I feel incredibly let down and angry that they didn't listen to me.
"In June, a doctor told me it probably wouldn't be a brain tumour because Levi wasn't having fits and he hadn't lost his balance.
"I pushed every step of the way to try and get a diagnosis, not just to keep giving him more migraine medication.
"As his mum, I knew he wasn't well but I was made to feel neurotic."
Tracey McErlain-Burns, chief nurse for The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "We would like to express our sincere sympathy to the family of Levi, and our heart goes out to them at this very sad and difficult time.
"Due to patient confidentiality, it is inappropriate to discuss details of our patients in public.
"However we have contacted the family and offered to meet with them to openly discuss all of their concerns."
Ms Ringer first took Levi to Pinderfields in March after he started suffering frequent severe headaches.
He was kept in overnight before being discharged.
Ms Ringer claims she was told he was suffering from migraines.
In April she took him to see a consultant at Pinderfields after he started suffering dizzy spells.
And in June Ms Ringer took Levi to the hospital's accident and emergency department after he complained of a stiff neck.
She claims she was told the headaches and a stiff neck were not linked.
Later in June, she made an appointment for a brain scan and was told there was a three-month waiting list.
Scared
She said: "I knew in my heart it was something more serious, and I persistently kept taking him back.
"It got to the point where he was getting headaches every day.
"He started with dizzy spells and was too scared to lie down. He was losing weight and being sick but still there was no mention of a scan until I pushed for it.
Ms Ringer added: "I had kept begging Levi to hang on. But I knew the time had come that he'd had enough, so I said to him: 'Mummy will see you when I get there.'
"I didn't want him to die alone in the hospital bed, so the nurses took his breathing tube out and lifted him onto my knee. I cuddled and kissed him and pulled him so tight to me, then seconds later he went."
Miss Ringer, a former teacher at Outwood Grange Technology College, plans to bring a formal complaint against Pinderfields Hospital.
mark.lavery@ypn.co.uk
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Friday 25 May 2012
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