Student who died of meningitis while revising for exams was medics’ ‘blunder’
A TEENAGE girl who died of meningitis was discharged from hospital despite her mother showing doctors a school letter warning about the disease, an inquest heard yesterday.
Isabel, 16, couldn’t believe she was being sent home
Isabel Gentry, 16, had said at the time: “I can’t believe they’re sending me home. I feel so ill.”
Her mother Claire Booty had shown hospital staff the letter but was told Isabel had “a virus”.
The inquest heard Isabel was sent home but her condition deteriorated so badly that she was unable to communicate and was readmitted to hospital the next day, the inquest heard.
She had been studying for her AS exams when she complained of a bad headache
Izzy wasn’t given a chance
She had been studying for her AS exams when she complained of a bad headache and began vomiting and fainting.
After visiting Bristol Royal Infirmary, she was sent home but returned 24 hours later as her condition worsened.
She died on May 20, 2016, after an MRI scan showed irrecoverable brain swelling.
Her mother said that the family had raised concerns with on-call medical staff about meningitis
This Morning doctor warns university students of meningitis
Her mother told the inquest at Flax Bourton, Bristol, that the family had raised concerns with on-call medical staff about meningitis.
They were told that a fellow pupil at St Brendan’s Sixth Form College had recently been diagnosed with meningitis and the school had sent a warning letter to parents.
Isabel died two days after she had posted on Twitter: “Lol, I knew something was up. Did not expect I’d be rushed to hospital in an ambulance.”
Izzy's Twitter feed before she died
Her mother, Mrs Booty, said: “Izzy wasn’t given a chance.”
University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said Isabel’s treatment was “appropriate” as initial symptoms were “not typical of meningitis”.
The inquest is likely to last five days.