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Girl, two, died of suspected swine flu 24 hours after hospital doctors said she 'had no illness' and sent her home
By Luke Salkeld
Last updated at 12:28 AM on 15th December 2009
A girl of two died of suspected swine flu the day after hospital doctors allegedly told her parents she had no illness and sent her home.
Michelle Fernando, two, began showing symptoms a week after her mother was diagnosed with the virus in November.
Her worried father took her to hospital but said medics sent them home, telling him to give the little girl Calpol and water.
Tragic: Michelle Fernando, aged two, was said by doctors to be clear of swine flu which is believed to have later killed her, according to her mother Uthpala, 27
The next day Michelle stopped breathing and died. In a tragic twist of fate, it was the day ministers announced that under-fives would be vaccinated against swine flu.
Her mother Uthpala, 27, who lives with husband Rashid and their son Marlon, four, in Bristol, said Michelle would still be alive if she had not been sent home.
'We trusted the doctors but we don't any more,' she said yesterday.
'When Rashid took her to hospital, the doctors told him she had no illness.
'Even when my husband explained I had swine flu, they didn't take it seriously.'
Michelle was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital after she stopped eating and was very weak.
Her parents claim doctors did not carry out a blood test or X-ray before sending her home, where her condition worsened.
Her parents were due to receive a report today, which will reveal if swine flu killed her.
They have made an official complaint. Health chiefs in Bristol said an inquiry has started.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1235731/Swine-flu-toddler-died-day-doctors-told-parents-wasnt-ill-sent-home.html#ixzz0ZivdR5OT
By Luke Salkeld
Last updated at 12:28 AM on 15th December 2009
A girl of two died of suspected swine flu the day after hospital doctors allegedly told her parents she had no illness and sent her home.
Michelle Fernando, two, began showing symptoms a week after her mother was diagnosed with the virus in November.
Her worried father took her to hospital but said medics sent them home, telling him to give the little girl Calpol and water.
Tragic: Michelle Fernando, aged two, was said by doctors to be clear of swine flu which is believed to have later killed her, according to her mother Uthpala, 27
The next day Michelle stopped breathing and died. In a tragic twist of fate, it was the day ministers announced that under-fives would be vaccinated against swine flu.
Her mother Uthpala, 27, who lives with husband Rashid and their son Marlon, four, in Bristol, said Michelle would still be alive if she had not been sent home.
'We trusted the doctors but we don't any more,' she said yesterday.
'When Rashid took her to hospital, the doctors told him she had no illness.
'Even when my husband explained I had swine flu, they didn't take it seriously.'
Michelle was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital after she stopped eating and was very weak.
Her parents claim doctors did not carry out a blood test or X-ray before sending her home, where her condition worsened.
Her parents were due to receive a report today, which will reveal if swine flu killed her.
They have made an official complaint. Health chiefs in Bristol said an inquiry has started.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1235731/Swine-flu-toddler-died-day-doctors-told-parents-wasnt-ill-sent-home.html#ixzz0ZivdR5OT