Chickenpox Boy Died After Hospital Release

12:41pm UK, Friday July 03, 2009
A five year old boy died from chickenpox just two weeks after being sent home by hospital staff.



Fabio Alves-Nunes suffered multiple organ failure after a severe reaction to the illness.

His death was the result of a series of "significant failings" by East Surrey Hospital in Redhill, an independent report said.

When parents Anna and Ricardo Alva-Nunes telephoned three times requesting an urgent home visit from their GP a receptionist told them to give their son a cold bath and some Calpol.

The couple only received an apology 16 months after their son's death.

Mr Alves-Nunes, 36, told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "We'll remember our little boy like this, his eyes so swollen he could barely see, his body covered in open weeping sores, his favourite pyjamas soaked through with blood, sweat and pus.

"He was hallucinating and so wiped out from the pain and dehydration he could not even lift his own head.

"We knew something was terribly wrong. So why didn't two doctors and three nurses?"

On the February 14 last year Mr Alva-Nunes desperately rushed his son to A&E for a second time.

Doctors spent 20 to 30 minutes with him before sending him home with painkillers and antibiotics.

Three days later Fabio lost consciousness at home in Redhill and paramedics were called.

His mother, 36, told the Daily Mirror the paramedics decided to take him into hospital after three hours.

It was then more than 24 hours until Fabio was taken to Evelina Children's Hospital in south London where he died.

Mrs Alves-Nunes told the Daily Mirror: "We held his hand as he slipped away."

Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said it accepted there were sytematic failings, but denies they contributed to Fabio's death.

But Fabio's parents are furious that names were blanked in the report into his death and they want someone to be held accountable.

Aother child failed by the health system.
God love his poor parents having to remember their little boy in this state.
Rest in peace little Fabio. May the angels in heaven look after you

Poor little lad must have been in so much pain.

RIP Fabio.

I cant understand why he was sent home just looking at the photos you know there is something very wrong.

OMG! This is awful!! I am actually crying at this!

Poor, poor Fabio and his parents!! HOW did this happen?? Chickenpox is such a simple illness!!

Rest now Fabio, little baby xx

God please give these parents some help x