Test 'could have saved schoolboy'

Robert Powell: Inquest almost 14 years after his death

A medical test which could have saved a 10-year-old boy's life was ordered by a hospital consultant but never carried out, an inquest has heard.

Robert Powell from Ystradgynlais in the Swansea Valley became ill, lost weight, and suffered sickness and stomach pains before being taken to Morriston Hospital in December 1989.

A consultant ordered a test that would have detected Addison's disease - a rare but treatable condition - but this was never carried out and he was discharged.

He fell ill again the following April and, despite being seen by a number of GPs, collapsed at his home and died three hours after being rushed back to hospital.

Coroner Michael Howells gave the inquest jury, sitting in Carmarthenshire, a brief outline of the events leading to Robert's death on the first day of the inquest.

He said that when the schoolboy, known to his family as Robbie, left hospital in December he had been diagnosed with gastroenteritis.

He returned to school in January 1990 but fell ill again at the beginning of April and was visited at home by a series of local GPs over the next two weeks.

On the day died he was visited twice by a local GP and was finally admitted to hospital after a "heated exchange" between his parents, Dianne and William Powell, and the doctor.

But the youngster died within hours after he suffered two heart attacks.

Mr Howells told the jury that it was likely they would be asked whether neglect contributed to Robert's death.

Robert's father cross-examined witnesses as they gave evidence.

He told the court his family had made it clear that they were unhappy with the care their son had received in the weeks before his death.

Pathologist Dr Sarah Williams was also closely questioned by Michael Powers QC, who was representing Dianne Powell, Robert's mother.

He suggested that there might have been omissions made in the way the post-mortem was written up.

He noted that it did not state that Addison's disease had been a suspected diagnosis before Robert's death.

Dr Williams had earlier said that she had been told verbally before carrying out the examination that Addison's disease could be a factor and eventually recorded that as a cause of death.

She strongly denied there had been any omission from her post-mortem report.

The inquest, which is not sitting on Wednesday due to a bereavement, was adjourned until Thursday.