Linda and Alistair were overjoyed by the birth of their second son Axel in September Two days later, Axel’s father 2012. A big, cuddly baby, increasingly worried about his adored by his two-year-old son’s breathing and unwillingness to brother, he was the picture feed contacted Harmoni again. Dr of health. Shantikumar in what the coroner – later described as inadequate ‘an When he was taken ill with breathing performance’ spent less than a – problems, lethargy and a lack of appetite, minute taking a history before Axel’s mother called the local downgrading the call from and GP service Harmoni, a private ‘urgent’ – making a routine appointment for Axel. company. They diagnosed a virus and advised her to see the family GP. Axel died later that afternoon, collapsing in his mother’s arms while waiting to be But Axel’s condition got worse. The next seen. He had bronchopneumonia, an day Linda arranged to see Dr Takhar entirely treatable illness. at the Harmoni base at the Whittington Hospital in Highgate, trial London. Leigh Day represented the family at the inquest. A CQC report has now Dr Takhar despite Axel’s breathing – highlighted staffing insufficiencies in the problems, his not having eaten for two service. Our investigation into its safety, days, reduced urine flow and general and what happened in this particular lethargy - reassured Linda and wrote a case, are continuing. delayed prescription for amoxicillin. This would avoid the need for re-presentation the next day.
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, 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 later, Axel’s father increasingly worried about his son’s breathing and unwillingness to feed contacted Harmoni again. 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_Dec2014.docx