The Sentinel
STOKE, England — An internal investigation is underway into why paramedics failed to send an eight-year-old boy who had suffered a fractured skull to hospital.
Paramedics sent Jordan Beech home after he was knocked down by a car near his Chell Heath home.
The youngster, pictured, was hit by the car when crossing outside his house in Sprinkbank Road.
Paramedics attended the accident, which happened on December 11, at about 3.30pm, and apparently told parents Colin and Natalie that their son only had a few cuts and bruises.
The couple kept Jordan awake for four hours and monitored him closely and allowed him to sleep by 8.30pm.
But the youngster soon woke up coughing up blood and his parents called for another ambulance.
Jordan was taken to University Hospital of North Staffordshire where he was diagnosed with a double fracture to his skull.
He was kept in hospital for two days and nights before returning home on Monday.
He now faces regular check-ups while his skull is left to heal naturally.
Dad Colin, aged 50, has submitted an official complaint to West Midlands Ambulance Service.
The learner support worker said: “If we’d have brought him inside and taken him to bed he could’ve gone into a coma or choked on his vomit.
“Thanks to God I’ve still got a son, because he could’ve died. I want to know why the paramedics didn’t spot how serious his injuries were.
“If the paramedics have heard about what’s happened I hope they’ve got the decency to come here, hold their hands up and say sorry.”
Jordan, who also lives with six-yearold brother Joseph and 24-year-old sister Donna, is currently recovering at home.
Colin said: “The police officer asked the paramedic if Jordan was going to the hospital, but the paramedic said no.
“The officer questioned him because he couldn’t believe it. I’ve always thought in an accident like that, especially a child, that you take them straight to hospital.
“We kept him awake for four or five hours, but when he woke up he was sick three times and there was blood in it.
“The second lot of paramedics came and looked at him and took him straight to the hospital.
” The surgeon said it was life-threatening because if the fluid started leaking they’d have to operate on him straight away.”
Mum Natalie, aged 49, added: “I hope something like this never happens to anyone again. Another child might not have been as lucky as Jordan.”
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We can confirm that an internal investigation is currently taking place. The patient’s family have been in contact with the trust regarding this incident.”
Copyright 2010 The Sentinel (Stoke)
All Rights Reserved