Health scare has family fuming

By Melissa Meehan
A HALLAM family says their daughter was a victim of a “big mistake” at Casey Hospital late last month, when she was sent home twice before her appendix burst.
But Southern Health says the hospital acted with the upmost care at all times during the patient’s treatment.
Ramani Perera said her 12-year-old daughter Gumna had severe stomach pain and was vomiting numerous times on Sunday 26 September before she took her to the 24-hour clinic in Berwick where she was told to go to the hospital.
“She walked in like a letter ‘v’ she was in so much pain, crying and screaming so they gave her some strong pain killers,” Ms Perera said.
“They did some scans and said everything looked OK, that she might have a urinary infection and sent her home.”
Two hours later, Ms Perera took Gumna back to the hospital where different doctors took her blood and did more scans.
Again Ms Perera said she was told her daughter had urinary troubles, was given antibiotics and sent home again.
“After many more hours of Gumna being in pain I took her to another GP, she was in so much pain and still vomiting and the medicine did not seem to be working,” she said. “He said it was much more serious than we had thought and told us to go straight to the Monash hospital.”
Within hours of arriving at the Monash Medical Centre, Gumna was taken into surgery to have her burst appendix removed.
“She’s very lucky,” she said.
“But it is not good enough.”
Spokeswoman for Southern Health Suzana Talveski said Gumna was treated according to symptoms she presented that evolved over a 72-hour period.
“The patient received extensive testing including an ultrasound and blood tests to determine the cause of her illness,” Ms Talveski said. “At no stage of her visit at Casey Hospital did the patient exhibit any classical symptoms of appendicitis.”
Ms Talveski said it was important that it was noted that upon Gumna’s arrival at the Monash Medical Centre she still did not present with any classical signs of appendicitis although she was monitored by highly experienced physicians and surgeons.
“Her treatment at all times was clinically appropriate.”