SIX-year-old Shen’iyah Green was sent home from hospital after doctors put down her fever, vomiting and shortness of breath to a stomach bug – assuring her mum she was “absolutely fine”.
But Shen’iyah fell asleep in the car journey home and never woke up.
Shen’iyah Green, 6, died less than three hours after being sent home from hospital – after doctors failed to recognise complications caused by her sickle cell disease[/caption]
Her mum Shanieka desperately tried to give her daughter CPR and paramedics tried to resuscitate her for an hour.
But the six-year-old was pronounced dead less than three hours after being discharged from hospital.
Shen’iyah had sickle cell disease, a lifelong health condition characterised by red blood cells shaped like crescent moons, which can cause pain, anaemia and increased risk of infection, among other issues.
This was documented in her health records and repeatedly flagged by Shanieka when she took her daughter to A&E on January 11, 2019.
But medics at North Middlesex University Hospital failed to recognise that Shen’iyah’s symptoms – fever, vomiting, shortness of breath and pain in her right leg – were caused by complications of sickle cell disease.
Her cause of death was given as splenic sequestration – a rare but recognised complication of sickle cell disease – that occurs when a large number of sickled red blood cells get stuck in the spleen.
An inquest held earlier this month found that neglect by North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust had contributed to Shen’iyah’s death.
Mum-of-four Shanieka, a nurse practitioner from Enfield, said the family feel “lost” without Shen’iyah, and “struggle to deal with the manner of her death”.
She said: “Shen’iyah had sickle cell disease, which meant she should be treated under specialist sickle cell protocols – but this did not happen, and she has paid the ultimate price.
“This was wholly avoidable. She was only six years old and deserved so much better than being sent home to die.”
The Sun has contacted the trust for comment.
Shen’iyah was rushed to A&E on January 11, 2019.
Medics diagnosed the tot with gastroenteritis and discharged her at 5.25pm, despite Shanieka pleading with them to further investigate her symptoms and conduct more tests.
Her mum said: “I know my daughter better than anyone and I was not listened to.
“I asked for blood tests to be carried out, I asked for a second opinion, I repeatedly raised my concerns that something was badly wrong, but I was told she was fine to go home.
“She fell asleep on the car journey home and never woke up again.”
The tot was rushed back to hospital and pronounced dead by 8pm.
“When Shen’iyah was rushed back to hospital, the same triage nurse and doctor were there who had seen her earlier that day,” Shanieka recalled.
What is sickle cell disease?
Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition that prevents red blood cells from developing properly.
The cells can become abnormally shaped and die quicker than healthy blood cells, raising the risk of clots or blood vessel blockages.
Most people live normal lives with the condition but it can trigger flare-ups called sickle cell crises, when symptoms become painful and may lead to complications.
Signs include:
- Dizziness
- Pain
- Tiredness and weakness
- Headaches
- Shortness of breath
Patients with sickle cell disorders are also at higher risk of infections, anaemia (low blood iron), gallstones, stroke, high blood pressure and kidney problems.
There is no definitive cure for sickle cell disease and many patients require treatment throughout their lives.
An estimated 15,000 people in England have it and it is more common in black people.
“This made me very angry – why didn’t they listen to me earlier when I begged them to?”
A Serious Incident Report by North Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust highlighted that Shen’iyah’s observations “were not completely within normal limits and more information was needed” before discharging her.
The report also acknowledged that her cause of death is a “rare diagnosis for a six-year-old child with sickle cell disease and therefore may not have been considered – but may have been picked up if the child was in hospital”.
The inquest, at North London Coroner’s Court, heard that medics at the hospital didn’t take a blood sample when Shen’iyah went to A&E, didn’t document the cause of Shen’iyah’s abdominal pain and failed to admit her to hospital.
It concluded that these failures amounted to neglect.
Shanieka says she continues to be haunted by the fact she was not listened to by medics.
“I do not want another family ever to go through an ordeal like this, to feel such unbearable pain, to be haunted by the memories of having to do CPR on your dying daughter, having been assured only shortly before that she was fine and well enough to go home,” she said.
“Families need to be listened to and their fears and concerns for their child taken seriously.
“Children must also receive the care that is right for them, particularly in cases where they have specific medical conditions which warrant specialist attention.
“There can be no excuses for Shen’iyah’s death – but we only hope that lessons are learned from it so this can never, ever happen to another child.”
A spokesperson for the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust told The Standard: “We would like to extend our deepest condolences to Shen’iyah Green’s family and to express how profoundly sorry we are that she died after being discharged from hospital.
“Following Sheni’yah’s death in 2019, we carried out a full investigation and have since introduced a number of improvements to the care provided to children with sickle cell disease.
“This includes ensuring all patients receive a full blood count test and a complete set of observations before being discharged home”.