to think that this GP should be struck off

[atheistmantis]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-39095656

A five-year-old girl died of an asthma attack after being turned away by a GP because she arrived minutes late for her appointment.

Trial by media and supposition is never a good idea. The professional body ruled as was seen appropriate based on all evidence. Not sure it needs dragging up again by people who know very little.
All asthmatics should have written plan to be followed in event of exacerbation. BTC guidelines are clear on that.

I have read that the NHS does in fact blame this particular GP and her refusal to see the girl for the girl's death. She knew the girl was at a high risk of attacks/seizure/death, and still refused to see her.

Since the doctors' watchdog, the General Medical Council, held her disciplinary hearing behind closed doors, details of the incident would have remained secret had the "confidential" NHS report not been leaked to the press.

The report concluded that the "root cause" of the girl's death was Dr Rowe's refusal to see her. It said the GP turned Ellie-May away without asking a single question about the girl's condition.

Just months earlier, a paediatrician had written to Dr Rowe warning that Ellie-May was "at risk of another life-threatening asthma attack".

--- from the Telegraph

This has made me so sad and angry, also I'm a nurse. I know that people should attend appointments on time but things happen and being 4 minutes late is not a major deal. How often is everyone kept waiting when attending appointments. I took my disabled father for a hospital appointment recently, we were seen an hour after the appointment time.

When I was pregnant seeing a midwife, she started shouting at me for being late even though I'd phoned the reception to say I'd be late. I had been up all night with my sick toddler and was waiting on my father driving 25 minutes to watch her as I didn't want to take her out. The next appointment I had with her (should have got another midwife ) she kept me waiting for 20 minutes, not a word of apology.
Also this GP lied saying she had another patient when she didn't, she was obviously trying to prove a point. I think she should be struck off but she will probably be let off.
Please anyone who is worried about themselves or others, having difficulty breathing or chest pain etc, go to A and E or dial 999 for an ambulance especially when it's a child.

All asthmatics should have written plan to be followed in event of exacerbation. BTC guidelines are clear on that.

It is common for asthma plans to include making an emergency appointment with a GP. That was done and the GP refused to see her.

What a sad story. Dr Rowe sounds vile. And negligent. She probably should have been struck off. Soft. Gets away with murder. Almost literally.

There are reasons to hold hearings in private, esp if they relate to the mental or physical health of the registrant. That doesn't stop people getting struck off or sanctioned tho.

Very sad. Speculation isn't great though.

Why did the GP lie? And say she was seeing the next patient?

So very very sad.

I read this earlier on the BBC website and was appalled at the doctor's attitude. If I recall correctly she didn't see another patient until 5.20 and told the receptionist she wouldn't see the girl because she was late.

Should definitely be stuck off. Doctors have a duty of care and to refuse an emergency appointment because of a matter of minutes is shocking conduct.

Very sad.

Disgrace that she can call herself a doctor. And short suspension on full pay?? . Surely it should be a criminal offense, the little girl died and she was responsible

I'm very surprised she only got a warning - GMC are normally more severe and doctors have been struck off for far less.

• The combination of lack of care , and then lying is definitely falling well below standards expected of a doctor .

Maybe the GMC didn't have the full facts or the reported story is incomplete.

I am horrified. Hope the doctor can live with what she has done - on not done, in this case. It isn't going to help her patient figures, or her patient satisfaction figures, much. Serves her right.

I work in a GP surgery and often see patients in the emergency slots. There is undoubtedly much more to this story than we are being told. If I was still in surgery I would see any patient using one of these slots, if they missed the appointment I would see them after surgery. I don't know any of my colleagues that wouldn't do this

That's how it would work at my GPs surgery, betty. I can think of at least a couple of occasions where I've been slotted in after surgery without an appointment at all.

Rafals, as a patient I've also been slotted in afterwards. As a practitioner I've seen patients who have been 40 mins late for emergency appointments, shit happens and I know I'll be late anyway!! If the GP really did refuse to see the child purely due to being late then I completely agree it's outrageous.

Surely a GP won't throw out an appointment due to the person arriving at the surgery 4 minutes late? Really

One would hope not, given that I nearly always have to wait at least a few minutes when I go to the doctors. In fact I once had an appointment with my son at 9am, the first slot of the day. The doctor rolled in at 9.30. No apologies, no explanations.

It's hypocritical in the extreme, especially as the report I read said that the mum explained to reception she'd be a few minutes late as she needed to take her baby to childcare.

And in this case the hypocrisy (may have) led to a child's death. Maybe the mum should have gone to A&E but the way the doctor acted was appalling, and I am a stickler for punctuality.

The report states that this Dr regularly refused to see patients who were late for their appointments.

Its awful isn't it, because one woman Joanne Rowe was in a bad mood she let a 5 year old girl die.

She should have enough morals to work out she shouldn't be a Doctor and at least quit. Apparently she is working In Cardiff somewhere now?
Should have been done for manslaughter

she now works in Cloughmore Medical centre, Splott Cardiff
They should be ashamed of themselves taking her on

To me the lies the GP told to try and get herself out of trouble tell us all we need to know about what kind of doctor she is.

I can't imagine many parents will be booking their kids in to see her anytime soon.

This is the second case I know of where a doctor messed up, a kid with asthma died and they got a tap on the wrists. The other case the doctor made a fuss about the cost of nebuliser masks! She was suspended for 3 months and has been back working in the same place for years since.

Parents have no chance of getting schools etc to take their child's asthma seriously when even getting s GP to do so can be difficult.

A pp said that the mother shouldn't have taken an appointment at that time, if she couldn't get there at that time.
It may be that you have to take the next available emergency appointment and are not given the choice of a later one. That is the general policy at my doctors.

To me, it is the fact she lied about having moved onto the next patient that is the big thing, not that she turned her away.

If she believed that turning away the client was right, she would have stood by that decision.

That is the general policy at my doctors.

Same at mine. And sometimes people get caught in traffic. Or it takes a bit longer to get your unwell child in/out of the car than expected. Or parking is a nightmare etc. No-one should be deliberately late to the GP, but a bit of common sense is needed when someone has an ill child.

Haven't read the whole thread but I did read elsewhere that the "enquiry" seemed to be done and dusted pretty quickly.
Of course, GPs should allow a few minutes grace, especially in the case of anyone with a chronic condition - and particularly if that anyone is a child. After all, we often have to wait for OUR appointments with THEM.

Shame on her and on any other person who deals with what are potentially life and death situations, if they do not do their very best to put the oateint's needs first.