Angry mother attacks bungling doctors who told her daughter’s broken arm was only a bruise

  • Doctors said Calpol would make the pain of broken arm go away
  • Hospital x-rays later showed two-year-old had shattered her arm in two places
  • NHS walk-in centre have not apologised but will hold an investigation into mistake

By James Andrew

PUBLISHED: 15:16 EST, 4 November 2012 | UPDATED: 15:37 EST, 4 November 2012

An angry mother has hit out at doctors who failed to realise that here two-year old daughter had a broken arm and sent her home saying it was just a bruise.

Joanne Hollins-Cooper, 31, took two-year-old Jessica to the NHS walk-in centre in Stoke-on-Trent after her daughter had a nasty fall at home last month.

Doctors examined the arm and diagnosed it as just a bruise and advised her to give her daughter Calpol.

Child in pain: Joanne Hollins-Cooper took her daughter Jessica to a walk-in centre after she hurt her arm but doctors said it was a bruise x-rays later showed her arm was broken in two places

Child in pain: Joanne Hollins-Cooper took her daughter Jessica to a walk-in centre after she hurt her arm but doctors said it was a bruise x-rays later showed her arm was broken in two places

After three days of no improvement in Jessica’s arm the worried mum took her to A&E at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire for a second opinion.

The young toddler underwent a series of x-rays which showed that she had shattered her arm in two places either side of her elbow.

 

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Speaking on Sunday Joanne fumed: ‘Jessica was playing at home and running around, like every toddler does.

‘Before I knew it, she had tripped over and fallen down awkwardly. I tried to have a look but she was crying out in pain every time I touched it.

‘I was told nothing was broken and it was just badly bruised.

‘She advised us to have some rest for a couple of days and to give Jessica some Calpol for the pain.

‘At the time, I thought 'they know better than me' so I believed her when she said it wasn't broken.

‘Obviously, Jessica was very grumpy but I just put it down to her arm being sore.

Getting it right: After being told the problem was a bruise Joanne Hollins-Cooper took her daughter to The University Hospital of North Staffordshire where x-rays showed she had broken her arm

Getting it right: After being told the problem was a bruise Joanne Hollins-Cooper took her daughter to The University Hospital of North Staffordshire where x-rays showed she had broken her arm

‘I just cried because I felt so guilty that she had been walking around with a broken arm for all that time.

‘I had done what I thought was best and trusted the professionals.’

Little Jessica had her arm in plaster for two weeks but at a further appointment, doctors found there was still a small fracture.

She is due to go back for a further check-up in three weeks time.

Meanwhile, the family, from Weston Coyney, Staffs., have lodged a formal complaint with the walk-in centre after

Joanne revealed they still haven't apologised for their error.

She added: ‘They have not apologised to me but I have been told they are investigating.

‘I am very angry.

‘We are told to use walk-in centres rather than A&E to ease the pressure on the hospital - but look what happens when you do.'

Dr Russell Kelsey, regional medical director for Harmoni, who run the centre of behalf of the NHS, said: 'As the largest provider of out-of-hours urgent care in the country, we pride ourselves on offering the highest levels of patient care and satisfaction.

‘Any patient concern with our service is treated very seriously.

‘We are in the process of investigating this complaint and as soon as those investigations are concluded, we will share our findings with the mother.’

 
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Forget walk in centres go to straight to an a&e; department.

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This seems to be quite common. Doctors don't seem to believe that some children at the age of 2 can break their arm from a minimal fall. It is usually a greenstick fracture. I insisted on x-rays when I was nearly sent home with my 2-year-old, when I felt strongly that her arm was broken (due to my husband's excellent descriptions of what it was like to break a bone, him being a bit of an expert, lol). The key clue was that she could not grip with that hand and that she was not really using the arm much but was guarding it. I have never seen a child behave that way with a bruise (she was the youngest of 3 at the time). It was only a fairly small greenstick fracture, but broken nevertheless and deserving of a backslab for protection, as if she had fallen again she could have done further damage. 2 or 3 weeks later it was healed, it's so quick at that age, but definitely worth protecting for that time.

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Walk-in centre? Is she absolutely sure she saw doctors? Thet're almost entirely staffed by nurses.

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Nothing changes. 35 years ago I was told I had a sprained and bruised wrist. It was actually broken in 3 places. It was not properly set and still hurts to this day. If possible get a second opinion there and then. Or go to a different A&E.;

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A "Shattered" arm ----- pure and unadulterated hyperbole ! A "plaster" for two weeks ? Sounds like a very minor injury ! Mum gets her five minutes of fame and the DM gets to slag off the NHS ---again !

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I think we are entitled to ask just what it takes to become a doctor these days because frankly there's no excuse for this and thousands of similar cases.

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I know how you feel, my son is disabled with Cerebral Palsy and last February his school broke his leg for the 2nd time. The A&E; did an Xray of his hips only and said he is ok, even though he cried in agony when they lifted his leg, he is unable to speak so could not tell us where the pain was. They sent him home but after 2 day's I took him back and said they need to re-examine him, they then did an Xray of his leg and found the fracture, he was in agony at home with a broken leg and unable to tell us so. The hospital then put his leg in a heavy cast which resulted in a severe breakage 2 day's later. His leg is now shorter than before, he is unable to stand again and is now more severely disabled than before.

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The National Horror Story at its best. Never apologize, we will get sued.

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If her arm was 'shattered' in two places it would take an awful lot longer than two weeks in a plaster cast to fix it! Young children's bones are very soft so it is difficult to know when there is an actual break. If her arm had been 'shattered' the child would have been screaming in agony and there would have been an x ray immediately. But then again, it doesn't make a very good story to say Drs missed a fracture which wasn't major and only took two weeks to heal anyway.

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sounds about the same as my mum, she had a stroke, our doctors just said she had a trapped nerve, 5 weeks later she goes to the hospital for a check up, oh i'm sorry Mrs, you've had a stroke

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