GP admits more could have been done to save Isabel Gentry
- Schoolgirl Isabel Gentry died at hospital after suffering vomiting and fainting
- Previously, mother spoke to Dr Katherine Pearce at Willow Surgery in Bristol
- Dr Pearce told an inquest there had been a delay in calling back Izzy’s mother
- She admitted she could have done things ‘differently’ to identify how ill teen was
Alex Matthews For Mailonline
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Isabel Gentry died at Britstol Royal Infirmary after suffering from headaches, vomiting and fainting
A GP has admitted that she wishes she had done more to save a 16-year-old who died of meningitis.
Isabel Gentry died at Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) after suffering from headaches, vomiting and fainting.
Dr Katherine Pearce, who spoke to the teen’s mother just hours before her death, said there was a delay in returning her concerned family’s call because she was ‘rather reliant on receptionists’ to prioritise her workload
The promising student, known as Izzy, had been released by hospital doctors and sent home that day, despite her condition deteriorating so badly that she was unable to communicate.
An inquest into her death heard that Izzy’s mother Claire Booty rang Willow Surgery in Downend, Bristol, the same day she had been discharged.
Dr Pearce said she was unsure of the severity of the schoolgirl’s condition when speaking to her mother, but admitted she was concerned about her dehydration.
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However, she explained that she ‘didn’t really have any idea’ what was wrong with her when Mrs Booty called again three hours later.
Dr Pearce said she eventually recommended Mrs Booty dial 999 as the teen’s condition continued to deteriorate.
Izzy was taken to hospital but it was too late and she died of meningitis, the inquest in Flax Bourton, Bristol, was told.
Izzy, had been released by hospital doctors and sent home despite her condition deteriorating so badly that she was unable to communicate
Dr Pearce told the inquest: ‘From my point of view, it’s very difficult.
‘I’m faced with a surgery of patients, I’m rather reliant on receptionists who think there might be something more urgent and I am juggling other things that come my way.
‘There was a delay [in returning Mrs Booty’s first call] due to urgent blood results.
‘I have reflected on the calls I made and have wondered if there was anything I could have done differently to identify if Isabel was sicker than she was.
‘I think there are things I could have done which would have prompted me to ask Mrs Booty to call an ambulance [sooner].
‘I should have spoken to Isabel – it might have given me extra information. She may have already been confused which would have been useful.’
Izzy, who was preparing for her AS-Level exams, was discharged from the Bristol Royal Infirmary hours before Mrs Booty contacted Dr Pearce.
Dr Katherine Pearce said there was a delay in returning the Izzy’s family’s call because she was ‘rather reliant on receptionists’ to prioritise her workload at Willow Surgery in Downend, Bristol
Dr Pearce added she wished she had asked more questions to determine if Isabel’s symptoms had changed since she was discharged from the BRI that morning.
Isabel was released from the BRI by medics and told her mother ‘I can’t believe they’re sending me home, I feel so ill’.
Her mum claims she had shown hospital staff a letter they were sent from her college warning about another student with meningitis but were told it was ‘just a virus’.
But doctors and nurses deny they were ever shown the letter.
She was sent home until her condition deteriorated only to be readmitted 24 hours later when she got worse.
She died in the intensive care unit on May 20, 2016, after an MRI scan showed irrecoverable brain swelling had caused brain stem death.
The inquest continues.
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