Gran felt 'unwelcome' with toddler grandson at Glasgow Royal Hospital for Children day before he died

A gran told a probe into the death of an ill toddler that she felt they were unwelcome at a hospital a day before he passed away.

Isabel Reilly gave evidence into the fatal accident inquiry of grandson Sonny Campbell.

The 22-month-old from Carntyne contracted an infection and died at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children on December 6, 2016.

Another toddler, 23-month-old Cailyn Newlands, of Renfrew, Renfrewshire, also passed away at the hospital that day from an infection despite not being treated by the same doctors nor encountered each other.

The inquiry will focus on the circumstances of Sonny and Cailyn’s deaths, with particular focus on guidance, training, the medical assessments of the children and whether the children should have been assessed by a senior doctor or consultant.

The purpose of a Fatal Accident Inquiry (FAI) includes determining the cause of death; the circumstances in which the deaths occurred, and to establish what, if any, reasonable precautions could have been taken, and could be implemented in the future, to minimise the risk of future deaths in similar circumstances.

Glasgow Sheriff Court was told Sonny had been taken to a GP three days before he was taken to hospital by Ms Riley on December 5, 2016.

Sonny was found to have a high temperature and was diagnosed with a viral respiratory tract infection.

Advocate depute Isabella Ennis asked Ms Reilly if she felt reassured that she could bring Sonny back after he was discharged.

Ms Reilly replied: “No.”

Ms Ennis asked: “How did you feel?”

Ms Reilly replied: “I just felt they wanted us in and out because it was so busy.”

Ms Ennis then asked: “Did you understand that he could be brought back, but it wasn’t welcome?”

Ms Reilly replied: “No.”

The witness stated that she mentioned to a doctor about Sonny having yellow skin.

However, Ms Reilly claimed that the doctor told her that he didn’t.

Mark Alison, representing Sonny’s next of kin, asked the witness if she was given advice if his symptoms continued to worsen.

She replied: “No.”

The hearing was told that the next day, Sonny was found to have “pale, yellow skin” and was unable to breathe properly.

CPR was started on Sonny, and he was admitted to the Royal Hospital for Children at 12pm.

CPR was stopped, and life was pronounced extinct at 12.45pm.

Sonny’s cause of death was initially “unexplained” but was later stated to be “acute haemorrhagic leucoencephalitis and bronchopneumonia” and a “bacterial infection” believed to be Streptococcus Group G.

A clinical incident review found “no significant fault with the care provided to Sonny”.

A joint minute of agreed evidence said: “Sonny’s illness was even more challenging than most as the underlying infection did not show signs of being a serious one…and would not be predictable.”

The probe was also told that Cailyn Newlands died at the hospital eight hours later from “streptococcus pneumoniae bronchopneumonia.”

A review into Cailyn’s death also found that it was not “foreseeable or readily preventable”.

Cailyn was noted to have inflammation in her ears and throat as well as a high temperature days before she died.

She was also found to have a rash on her cheek, which disappeared when the skin was touched.

Cailyn was initially discharged on a number of occasions on December 5, 2016, but re-attended a day later.

Cailyn had been sick in the car after leaving the hospital, which was stated to be “dark green in colour.”

Her blood pressure was found to be low, and her pulse was weak.

Cailyn was noted as being “quiet and passive” and cried for her mother.

Cailyn’s condition deteriorated, and after 40 minutes of resuscitation efforts, the decision was made to stop.

The fatal accident inquiry continues before Sheriff Brian Cameron.