WHEN Georgie Hall’s son fell ill – she knew something was seriously wrong.
Ollie, six, had always been a happy, playful little boy – but he’d suddenly become withdrawn and a rash had started to spread over his body.
However, when Georgie, 38, from Wrentham in Suffolk, called an ambulance – paramedics “rolled their eyes” and told Georgie her son was “milking it”.
Little did they know, just hours later Ollie would tragically pass away.
Now, two years on from his death, Georgie and her husband Bryan are urging other parents to trust their instincts and for medical professionals to listen to their concerns.
Georgie said: “My greatest regrets are allowing the paramedics and GPs to ignore my concerns and trusting them instead of my instincts.”
Georgie first suspected something was wrong on October 23 2017 when Ollie fell ill.
As his condition continued to deteriorate, Ollie’s concerned mum rang 111 and an ambulance was called.
However, on arrival, paramedics dismissed meningitis – and even mocked and mimicked the “grunting” noise Ollie was making.
One paramedic even claimed that Ollie was going to “milk it” after he tripped over a step.
Ollie was then taken to see doctors at a local surgery where they concluded had a viral infection and he was sent home to rest.
Georgie said: “I said I was worried about meningitis and they assured me he was well enough to return home.
“They rejected meningitis out of hand. I was told everything was fine. I was made to feel I had to trust the medical professionals.”
Ollie’s dad Bryan added: “We both suspected meningitis and Georgie was raising this as a potential diagnosis.
“We were made to feel we were over-sensitive parents who did not know what we were talking about.”
I said I was worried about meningitis and they assured me he was well enough to return home
Georgie Hall
Despite this, just hours later, a rash began to spread over Ollie’s body – and his worried mum rushed him back to the surgery.
An emergency ambulance was called, only to find none were available.
Ollie’s parents drove him to hospital instead – but it was too late.
Ollie passed away the next morning at the James Paget University Hospital in Norfolk – leaving his two parents and little brother Charlie behind.
Georgie said: “It was shocking how fast the disease took over Ollie’s body.
“In less than 24 hours from showing his first sign of being ill he had died.
“Nothing can prepare you for that as a parent, no one expects to see their child die, it just doesn’t make sense.
“How could my happy, healthy six-year-old boy be here one minute and gone the next?”
An inquest into Ollie’s death in June this year concluded there had been a “gross failure” to provide basic medical treatment and the Suffolk coroner called for urgent improvements to prevent further deaths.
Professor Nigel Klein, a professor of infectious disease at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, said that he believed Oliver could have survived if he had been treated sooner.
He said that even if he had been treated as late as 3pm on October 23, he would still have lived, although he might have been left with scarring or loss of fingers or toes.
How could my happy, healthy six-year-old boy be here one minute and gone the next?
Georgie Hall
Earlier this week, Ollie’s mum appealed to other parents to trust their instincts.
Speaking at the annual Christmas concert of patient support charity Meningitis Now at Gloucester Cathedral on Monday, she said: “There are a few things I would like to tell every parent out there in the hope they never have to experience the pain that we are.
“Firstly, trust your instincts.
“The experts at the inquest into Ollie’s death all agreed that doctors should listen to the parents and parental views should weigh heavily in the medical assessment of the child.
“The hardest part of the inquest was hearing that Ollie could have been saved if he had been treated sooner.”
Georgie and her husband Bryan are also calling for parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against meningitis.
Georgie added: “The second thing is to have your child vaccinated. MenB has a vaccine.
Symptoms of meningitis
Meningitis can affect anyone but it’s most common in babies, teens and young adults.
It’s often mistaken for being flu and in some cases, people can seem hungover.
But the longer you leave it, the more at risk you become of things like blood poisoning – which can be fatal.
You can get the Meningitis B vaccine at Boots for £220.
Symptoms of meningitis develop suddenly and can include:
- A high temperature (fever) of 38C or above
- Being sick
- A headache
- A rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but this will not always develop)
- A stiff neck
- A dislike of bright lights
- Drowsiness or unresponsiveness
- Fits (seizures)
You need to seek medical help ASAP.
Even when people do survive meningitis, it can leave them with life-long issues such as hearing or vision loss, epilepsy, amputations and memory problems.
More on meningitis
“It’s not available to everyone so check with your GP whether your child is covered.
“If they aren’t, the MenB vaccine can be bought in many High Street pharmacies.”
Visit the Meningitis Now website here to find out more.