Asthma boy 'died in GPs' surgery'

Owen died in August 2002

A mother has told a fatal accident inquiry that her eight-year-old son died in a doctors' surgery after suffering an asthma attack.

Owen Charleston died in August 2002, hours after a doctor had told him he was having a panic attack.

Owen's mother, Michelle Hynes, said she was disgusted at how he was treated at the health centre in Cumbernauld.

Ms Hynes told the inquiry at Airdrie Sheriff Court that Owen looked like a "little old man" on the day he died.

She said she had to help her son walk into the health centre as it had become so difficult for him to breathe.

She said the doctor they saw at the health centre suggested Owen was suffering from a panic attack.

I'm disgusted that no one took this seriously and I'm disgusted that I haven't been given any answers as to how Owen died Michelle Hynes Owen's mother

After treatment with asthma drugs he was sent home but did not improve.

A few hours later, Ms Hynes took Owen back to the same surgery. He was again treated, but this time an ambulance was called.

Owen was declared dead on arrival at Monklands Hospital in Airdrie.

His mother said she could not believe the way he was treated.

"I'm disgusted that no one took this seriously and I'm disgusted that I haven't been given any answers as to how Owen died," said Ms Hynes.

"I want everybody to know why Owen died and I want to make sure nobody ever goes through this again."

In a statement, Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust said: "This is a very tragic case for the family involved and both the trust and the practice are assisting fully with the inquiry."

The inquiry continues.