'Inadequate' care for asthma boy

Owen had suffered from asthma since the age of five

An eight-year-old boy who died from an asthma attack did not receive adequate care from his GP on the day he died, an inquiry has found.

Owen Charleston collapsed and died of an asthma attack at a Cumbernauld health centre in August 2002.

The fatal accident inquiry found that Owen's death could have been avoided if an ambulance had been called by his GP, Doctor Julie Mallon.

Sheriff Robert Dickson led the inquiry at Airdrie Sheriff Court.

Owen, from Cumbernauld, had twice been taken to his local medical practice by his mother after he fell ill on 19 August, 2002. He died later that day.

Unfortunately, Dr Mallon had wrongly concluded that the principal cause of Owen's problem was anxiety and panic Sheriff Robert Dickson

On Tuesday, Sheriff Dickson said: " A reasonable precaution whereby the death might have been avoided would have been the transfer of Owen to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill, following his attendance at the Central Health Centre between 1600 hours and 1715 on 19 August 2002."

"Had Owen been transported by ambulance leaving the health centre before 1730 his death might have been avoided."

The inquiry heard that when Dr Mallon examined Owen at 1600 GMT on the day he died, she did not take a peak flow measurement, which measures lung capacity.

After Owen was nebulised, a treatment which involves drugs being administered via a mask to help with breathing, Dr Mallon said she had not taken another peak flow test, which would have indicated if the boy had improved.

'Strongly criticised'

She told the FAI in January: "It is something maybe I should have done but didn't do."

Owen's condition worsened after he was sent home and his mother took him back to the surgery just before 1800 GMT.

He collapsed in the doctor's surgery and an ambulance was called but he was pronounced dead a short time later at Monklands District Hospital in Airdrie.

Sheriff Dickson said: "Unfortunately, Dr Mallon had wrongly concluded that the principal cause of Owen's problem was anxiety and panic.

"She did not even consider it appropriate to give Owen prednisollene tablets to take after nebulisation (something which had been done the week previously) and on this she was strongly criticised by the other medical witnesses."

A spokesperson for Lanarkshire Primary Care NHS Trust said: "This is a very tragic case and we have great sympathy for the family involved.

'Safe procedures'

"Following the inquiry, we have carried out a review of this incident which has included looking closely at all statements and evidence provided by our staff.

"We have not found any evidence of inappropriate behaviour by trust staff.

"However, it is essential that we study the sheriff's determination in detail and work with the practice to ensure there are robust and safe procedures to address circumstances such as those that led to this tragedy.

"This will include monitoring the implementation of all actions taken as a result of sheriff's determination."

A spokesman for the Central Health Centre said: "The practice wishes to extend their sympathies to the family.

"At the moment the practice is considering the sheriff's details of the determination."