Australian couple’s daughter was infected with Golden Staph and sent home from Hong Kong
- Martin Newell and wife Ayesha were worried their baby had an infection
- Aussie couple claim she was infected with golden staph at hospital
- Doctors discharged daughter saying infection was ‘nothing to worry about’
- Days later Lulu required a lumbar puncture to save her life
- Incident is currently being investigated by Hong Kong’s health department
Josh Hanrahan For Daily Mail Australia
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An Australian couple have told of their harrowing experience at the world’s most expensive private hospital in Hong Kong, where they say their newborn baby was sent home with a potentially lethal bacterial infection.
Martin Newell and wife Ayesha have slammed the care of their daughter Lulu at the Matilda International Hospital, where they claim she was infected with golden staph (Staphylococcus aureus) due to the hospital’s poor hygiene, which then developed into septicemia.
The couple, originally from Melbourne, told Daily Mail Australia that in the days following Lulu’s birth on May 7 they both noticed an infection around the stump of her umbilical cord, but were told by paediatricians that it was ‘nothing’.
Disgraceful: Martin Newell (right) and wife Ayesha (left) welcomed their baby daughter Lulu into the world, but only days later she was fighting for her life after developing golden staph
Despite repeatedly asking questions, the couple say they were assured by paediatricians that there was nothing to worry about and both mother and daughter were discharged from hospital.
Two days later the injection had still not cleared up, but the couple claim their concerns were again ignored by health professionals.
‘We took her for a routine follow up and a paediatrician said the case was quite serious, but only prescribed antibiotics and ointments and told us to wait another 48 hours,’ Mr Newell told Daily Mail Australia.
Serious condition: The stump of Lulu’s umbilical cord became infected while she was in hospital but staff at the Matilda International Hospital still discharged her despite her parents’ concerns
Daddy cuddles: Martin Newell has slammed the handling of his daughter’s infection by staff at the hospital and also at a check up clinic
‘One thing you quickly learn is that there is such a thing as a mothers intuition.
‘Ayesha asked her godmother back home in Australia – who happens to be a paediatrician – and she said you need to take her straight to a hospital.’
At just six days old and with her immune system not properly established, Mr Newell believes if it wasn’t for his wife’s intuition then Lulu wouldn’t be alive today.
Rooms at the Matilda International Hospital require a down payment of up to $20,000 just to make a booking, however the couple say paying the highest prices in the world doesn’t mean the best care.
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‘We called the clinic back and said we were very concerned about her so they made arrangements for us to go to another private hospital in Hong Kong where they immediately put her on a course of intravenous antibiotics,’ he said.
‘By the next morning we had found out it was septicemia and they then said she needed a lumbar puncture.
‘This was only a week after she was born, but a couple of days before we’d taken her to the paedeiatrician who’d basically sent Lulu home to die over the weekend.’
Fortunately the treatment Lulu received at Hong Kong Adventist Hospital cleared up her infection and now at almost three weeks old she is back to full health.
Fighting: Less than a week after she was born Lulu was undergoing a lumbar puncture to help save her life
But for expectant parents at the Matilda International Hospital, the news is concerning.
The couple claim they have been contacted by the parents of at least six other babies who have contracted a similar condition over the past month at the Matilda.
In the case of Lulu, Mr Newell and his wife say when they called the hospital’s management to let them know there may be an infection within their walls, they flat out denied any issue.
However the hospital’s tune changed instantly after Ayesha posted her story on a popular Facebook page for mothers.
‘Within 10 mins of the post going up we got a phone call again from a doctor at the hospital who said they were investigating,’ Mr Newell said.
‘The doctor said that Lulu’s infection was most likely caused by the hospital.’
A spokesperson for the Matilda International Hospital said they had found no signs of a golden staph outbreak in initial investigations
‘Matilda International Hospital is aware of the recent media reports regarding a newly born girl’s infection of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria,’ the spokesperson said.
‘We are sorry to hear of the newborn and the family’s difficult experience.Safety and our patients health is our paramount concern.
‘As such, upon being informed of the newborn’s condition, a review by an independent microbiologist was immediately conducted and initial findings show no infectious outbreak.’
Daily Mail Australia also approached the couple’s head obstetrician, Lucy Lord, for a comment, but has not yet received a response.
Hong Kong’s department of health is currently investigating the incident.
Adorable: Mr Newell believes if it wasn’t for his wife’s intuition then their precious baby Lulu would not be alive
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