A “BEAUTIFUL” toddler would have lived longer if she’d been given antibiotics sooner, an inquest has heard.
Ava Hodgkinson was just two years old when she contracted strep A.
Also known as Group A Streptococcus, it is usually mild but can become very serious.
In Ava’s case, it led to sepsis.
Following her death, Ava’s mum Jade described her as “the most beautiful, caring, funny, kind, most beautiful soul”, LancsLive reports.
She added: “Words can’t describe the hell we are in. Living hell.”
Ava’s dad Adam Hodgkinson had taken her to see a GP at Beacon Primary Care at lunchtime on December 13th, 2022.
The GP, aware of the increased prevalence of strep A at the time and asked a specialist nurse practitioner to issue a prescription of amoxicillin at 1pm.
However, this wasn’t done until 2.04pm.
As the pharmacy didn’t have the requested dose in stock, the GP surgery was contacted for an alternative.
But a new prescription wasn’t issued until the next morning, which meant Ava took her first dose of the antibiotics at 9.30am on December 14th.
Just hours later, mum Jade rushed Ava to Ormskirk and District General Hospital where she collapsed and tragically died from “overwhelming sepsis” that was “likely” caused by strep A.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=” The signs and symptoms of sepsis to look out for, according to The UK Sepsis Trust” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6364693271112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]A jury inquest into the toddler’s death heard from Dr Sharryn Gardner, who worked at Ormskirk and District General Hospital.
When asked if Ava would not have died or would have lived longer had she started the antibiotics “as originally planned”, Dr Gardner replied: “It is more likely she would have lived for longer.”
At the time, there was a nationwide shortage of amoxicillin due to increased demand caused by a spike in the number of strep A cases.
Dr Rosalind Bonsor, GP partner at Beacon Primary Care, said the need to start Ava on antibiotics “wasn’t felt to be urgent” despite strep A being particularly prevalent at the time.
“Many, many people were presenting worried about strep A,” Dr Bonsor said.
“The walk-in centre had had an extremely busy weekend and people were concerned because it was in the news.
“People were worried on the background of the national news and they were bringing children in due to their concern. They were presenting in large numbers because of their worries about any kind of upper respiratory tract issues.
“They had heard that this dangerous thing was about nationally. I don’t think the increased numbers reflected the increased prevalence – it reflected the increased concern.”
The GP added: “It wasn’t felt to be urgent with Ava. I can see why it ended up being urgent the following morning. There was no sense of urgency.”
‘Hurts to the core’
The toddler, from Banks near Southport, was ill at the same time as her older brother and sister towards the end of 2022.
While Ava’s siblings Isaac and Emilia recovered, she developed sepsis and tragically died on December 14th, 2022.
In a tribute after Ava’s death, Jade also said: “Our Baby Angels Ava, you have been taken from our world too soon and so suddenly, you have left a trail of sheer agony and ripped our family apart.
“No one could see the events that have unfolded for us this week and we are tormented at every opportunity at something no parent should ever witness and I don’t know how I am ever going to get over that.
“You are the most beautiful, caring, funny, kind, most beautiful soul and it physically and mentally hurts to the core as to why this had to happen. You completed our family.”
Medications being out of stock “is a very common occurrence”, the inquest heard.
Since Ava’s death, several changes have been introduced at Beacon Primary Care, and staff across the surgery are now regularly informed about any medications that aren’t available.
The inquest, which is due to last four days, is still ongoing.