the next day. Linda and Alistair were overjoyed by the birth of their second son Axel in September 2012. A big, cuddly baby, Two days Axel’s father adored by his two-year-old increasingly worried about his brother, he was the picture son’s breathing and unwillingness to feed of health. contacted Harmoni trial. Dr Shantikumar in what the coroner – When he was taken ill with breathing later described as inadequate ‘an problems, lethargy and a lack of appetite, performance’ spent less than a Axel’s mother called the local – minute taking a history before GP service Harmoni, a private – downgrading the call from and ‘urgent’ company. They diagnosed a virus and making a routine appointment for Axel. advised her to see the family GP. Axel died later that afternoon, collapsing But Axel’s condition got worse. The next in his mother’s arms while waiting to be day Linda arranged to see Dr Takhar seen. He had bronchopneumonia, an at the Harmoni base at the Whittington entirely treatable illness. Hospital in Highgate, north London. Leigh Day represented the family Dr Takhar despite Axel’s breathing – at the inquest. A CQC report has now problems, his not having eaten for two highlighted staffing insufficiencies in the days, reduced urine flow and general service. Our investigation into its safety, lethargy - reassured Linda and wrote a and what happened in this particular delayed prescription for amoxicillin. This case, are continuing. would avoid the need for re-presentation
Linda and Alistair were overjoyed by the birth of their second son Axel in September 2012. A big, cuddly baby, adored by his two-year-old brother, he was the picture of health. When he was taken ill with breathing problems, lethargy and a lack of appetite, Axel’s mother called the local GP service – Harmoni, a private company. They diagnosed a virus and advised her to see the family GP. But Axel’s condition got worse. The next day Linda arranged to see Dr Takhar at the Harmoni base at the Whittington Hospital in Highgate, north London. Dr Takhar – despite Axel’s breathing problems, his not having eaten for two days, reduced urine flow and general lethargy - reassured Linda and wrote a delayed prescription for amoxicillin. This would avoid the need for re-presentation the next day. Two days Axel’s father increasingly worried about his son’s breathing and unwillingness to feed contacted Harmoni Dr Shantikumar – in what the coroner later described as ‘an inadequate performance’ – spent less than a minute taking a history before downgrading the call from ‘urgent’ and making a routine appointment for Axel. Axel died later that afternoon, collapsing in his mother’s arms while waiting to be seen. He had bronchopneumonia, an entirely treatable illness. Leigh Day represented the family at the inquest. A CQC report has now highlighted staffing insufficiencies in the service. Our investigation into its safety, and what happened in this particular case, are continuing. trial.
AnnualReview_VisuallyImpaired_Arial.docx