Medics failed to spot five-year-old was dying from a blood infection

THE grieving mother of a girl who died after a consultant failed to spot she was gravely ill has slammed the hospital’s level of care.

Dhiba Malik has spoken out as the medics who cared for her five-year-old daughter at Central Middlesex Hospital in Park Royal kept their jobs.

The General Medical Council (GMC) heard claims that consultant Gerald Hanson and his registrar Nivedita Bajaj failed to spot the severity of Ayema’s blood infection and she was left in a cubicle until she screamed in pain and turned blue.

Mrs Malik, a teaching assistant, recalled: “I could see her face was swollen, her lips were turning blue. She was in so much pain.

“There was nothing being done. They just gave her a paracetamol and left her in the cubicle.”

The panel were told she died just hours later after the bacteria spread through her body, shutting down her vital organs in March 2007.

Last week, Dr Hanson was found guilty of misconduct but the panel ruled his fitness to practice was not impaired and could be ‘remedied’.

Dr Bajaj was earlier cleared of misconduct after the GMC found he had been given unclear guidance by Dr Hanson when he called for advice about treating Ayema.

Calling the GMC decision disappointing, Mrs Malik, a mother-of-three added: “The care that my daughter received at Central Middlesex Hospital was just not acceptable.

“Doctor Hanson was overall in charge but Doctor Bajaj was dealing with everything.

“I strongly feel if she had done what she was supposed to do, she would have saved my daughter’s life.

“I was there, I was watching what was going on, I was seeing how my daughter’s condition was deteriorating, and nothing was being done at all.”

A spokeswoman for North West London NHS Trust who manages Central Middlesex Hospital said: “We are aware of the outcome of the GMC hearing held last week and would like to take this opportunity to reiterate our deepest sympathies to Mr and Mrs Malik at what must be a very difficult time for them.