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A distraught mother says her daughter was left in an emergency department for three hours after she suffered a stroke, prompting two investigations.
Georgia May Gilbertson / Stuff
Alania Chettleburgh with her favorite stuffed animal, Noodle, her companion wherever she goes.
Nicole Delamere’s daughter, Alania Chettleburgh, 14, who is autistic, can no longer wash or dress herself since she suffered two strokes in February.
Eight months later, Delamere is still waiting for answers as to why the emergency department staff at Hawke’s Bay Hospital did not realize earlier the severity of her daughter’s condition.
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More than 9,000 kiwis suffer a stroke each year, including about 40 children, according to the New Zealand Stroke Foundation. Recognizing stroke early is crucial to preventing long-term damage.
The Hawke’s Bay District Health and Disabilities Commissioner and Board of Health have confirmed separate investigations into Alania’s care, but declined to comment further.
On February 15, Delamere said Alania was at her grandmother’s house and complained of a headache and stomach pain the day before.
Stuff
A woman and her unresponsive daughter waited three hours to be seen by a doctor or nurse after suffering a stroke.
That night, Delamere received a call from Alania’s grandmother, telling her that she would be taking Alania to City Medical in Napier. She was then taken to Hawke’s Bay Hospital as her condition had worsened, but was released after a stomach problem was diagnosed.
The next morning, Alania woke up vomiting, getting worse throughout the day to the point where she couldn’t walk properly. By the time Delamere brought her daughter to the medical center, Alania’s left side of her body had collapsed and she needed a wheelchair to get around.
“I was awake, but in a vegetative state [she couldn’t] talk, move or do anything, ”Delamere said.
Georgia May Gilbertson / Stuff
Alania Chettleburgh and her mother Nicole waited for three hours in the Emergency Department at Hawke’s Bay Hospital after suffering a serious medical event.
Alania was taken to the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Emergency Department by ambulance, when Delamere said her concerns about her daughter’s condition were not taken seriously.
“When they took us in, it scared me a lot and I said to the nurse: ‘There is something very wrong, we have to take her to the triage room,’ and she growled at me. She said ‘sit down and stop panicking, I’m watching her.’
After waiting three hours, Delamere said he broke into the classification room and confronted the staff.
“I told them that we had been out there for three hours, Alania had to take panadol and she had gotten wet and dirty on her bed. So that was it, the nurse came out and grabbed her. “
Stuff
Hawke’s Bay Hospital in Hastings
Delamere said that after being transferred to intensive care, Alania was finally airlifted to Starship Children’s Hospital and diagnosed as having suffered two strokes.
Abigail Dougherty / Stuff
Alania Chettlesburgh was transferred to Starship Hospital, where it was later discovered that she had had a stroke.
A spokesperson for Hawke’s Bay DHB said the Community Medical Director, Women and Children, met with Alania’s family last week and discussed Alania’s care and treatment in the children’s room.
“The DHB also hopes to meet with the family in the near future to discuss the emergency department presentation.
“The medical director has assured the family that their complaint will be thoroughly investigated and will go through the normal robust complaint process.”
The DHB declined to comment further as the investigation was ongoing.
A spokesperson for the Health and Disabilities Commissioner confirmed that a complaint regarding Alania’s treatment had been received at Hawke’s Bay Hospital, but as the matter was under investigation, they were unable to comment further.
