Teenager sent home from A&E with dangerous brain tumour 'after being branded time waster'
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A teenage boy suffering from a dangerous brain tumour was turned away from A&E for "wasting time".
Jayden Powell, 16, was only rushed to life-saving surgery after opticians spotted signs of the growth during a routine eye test.
Jayden, from West Malling, Kent, was sent home with migraine tablets by doctors during his excruciating six-week battle with headaches.
His parents told how when Jayden visited Maidstone the family were informed A&E is not "not for headaches".
It was not until the teen had a last-minute check-up at an opticians a week later that eye specialists spotted an abnormality and sent the teen straight back to Maidstone Hospital where scans revealed a 4cm tumour on his brain.
From there he was immediately rushed to specialist hospital Kings College in London where he underwent a gruelling seven hour surgery to remove the growth.
His father Steve, 49, said they visited A&E after trips to the dentist and tablets for his sinuses had failed to stop the agonising pain.
He said: "A nurse said to us 'stop wasting our time, this is for accident and emergencies not headaches'.
"She sent us next door to see a 24 hour GP who flicked a light on and off and said 'you've got a migraine, go home and continue pain relief'.
"They could have lost him his life. We have made a formal complaint because doctors at King's College said a 16-year-old with headaches for five or six weeks should have raised alarm bells.
"Basically the opticians did save his life really."
Now recovering at home, Jayden is beginning to feel like himself again - but still faces several months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy for the Grade 4 cancerous tumour.
He has had to delay beginning his apprenticeship with his father's film set construction firm in London while he recovers.
The father-of-three has issued a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped save his son's life and revealed if his appointment had been a week later - the outcome could have been very different.
He said: "If he didn't have the operation he would have died within a week.
"He told me on Friday morning he now feels normal again. He said: 'This is my normal life again.'
(Photo: PA)
"On the Tuesday before the operation he said: 'I have had enough of living.'"
Mr Powell said Jayden's weight had plummeted to just seven stone while doctors tried to work out what was wrong with him.
He said he "could not fault" his treatment at Maidstone Hospital after the tumour was diagnosed, but said he was disappointed they were turned away by A&E staff.
He also praised the "faultless" care he has subsequently received at Kings College Hospital and the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
Staff at the opticians in a branch of Tesco in Larkfield said it was a miracle Jayden secured the appointment which saved his life on February 18, as the optician's were fully booked until the end of March.
(Photo: PA)
A Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust spokesman said: "Jayden was appropriately referred for a GP-led assessment."
Dr Andrew Catto, Chief Medical Officer at 24 hour GP service IC24, said: "The service that the healthcare providers involved in Jayden's case offered is being reviewed in light of his diagnosis.
"This is an extremely difficult time for the family and we will ensure they have appropriate support and information.
"Our deputy medical director has already spoken with the Powell family, and I will also be offering to meet them, so that we can help them understand the action we took.
"Jayden saw a number of healthcare professionals in the course of his diagnosis, from general practitioner to A&E triage, before being referred to our GP service.
"In fact, a brain tumour can be difficult to diagnose, especially within a primary care setting, and it is rare in a patient of Jayden's age, and for him to suffer such a serious condition.
"There will be an important opportunity to share the learning from his case with all those who were involved in Jayden's care."