Kelly Williams’ eight-year-old daughter, Lacie Feeney, was rushed into emergency brain surgery following severe headaches that had been misdiagnosed as tonsillitis. The young girl, who has a developmental delay and cerebral palsy due to being born prematurely at 26 weeks, was initially seen at New Cross Hospital’s urgent care and A&E departments.
Earlier this year, after a fall at school, Lacie was taken to A&E, where she was diagnosed with a mild concussion. Despite her complex medical history, including a brain drain inserted as a baby to relieve pressure by draining fluid, doctors did not conduct comprehensive imaging like a CT scan or X-ray. Kelly expressed shock that given Lacie’s history, more in-depth investigations were overlooked.
In the following days, Lacie began experiencing escalating headaches and fatigue. When Kelly took her back to A&E, Lacie was sent to urgent care, where doctors dismissed the symptoms as viral tonsillitis and refused to perform a CT scan, citing concerns over radiation exposure. She was discharged without antibiotics.
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Kelly recalls the fluctuating nature of Lacie’s condition: moments of seeming improvement followed by intense pain. A second return to the hospital ultimately led to a CT scan that revealed shadows on her brain. It was discovered that the drain inside her brain was blocked, a dangerous complication requiring immediate attention.
Lacie was swiftly transferred by ambulance to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where emergency surgery corrected the blockage. Kelly criticized the delayed diagnosis and mismanagement, noting the unnecessary pain her daughter endured. She stated, “A child shouldn’t have to go through all that before they get treated.”
While Lacie is now recovering, the experience has left her anxious about future headaches. Kelly, who also cares for two other children with special needs, has filed a formal complaint with the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) at New Cross Hospital. She praises the care received at the Paediatric Assessment Unit and the children’s ward but is deeply disappointed by the initial handling in A&E and urgent care.
Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust confirmed that they are investigating the complaint in collaboration with the family to ensure the matter is fully addressed.