Advertisement

Toddler fights for life after being turned away from Sydney hospital

A 2-year-old boy is in intensive care in a Sydney hospital after being bitten by an insect five days ago and then turned away from hospital with a potentially fatal infection.

Xavier Wakefield was a giggly, happy toddler up until last weekend.

Happy-go-lucky toddler, Xavier Wakefield, before an insect bite left him in intensive care. Photo: 7 News
Happy-go-lucky toddler, Xavier Wakefield, before an insect bite left him in intensive care. Photo: 7 News

Now he is connected to tubes and machines and is barely recognisable.

His parents brought him to Blacktown Hospital on Sunday, when his foot was red and swollen from what his parents believed was an ant bite.

But the hospital staff sent him home, leaving a raging golden staph infection undiagnosed.

"They had a look and she rang me back and they'd told him, ‘let nature take its course,’” Xavier’s uncle Mark Funnell said.

Xavier was rushed to intensive care just hours after being sent home from hospital. Photo: 7 News
Xavier was rushed to intensive care just hours after being sent home from hospital. Photo: 7 News
Baby Xavier is barely recognisable, just days after he was bitten. Photo: 7 News
Baby Xavier is barely recognisable, just days after he was bitten. Photo: 7 News

In just 24 hours, Xavier had developed a temperature.

He was soon rushed to intensive care at the Children’s Hospital in Westmead, where it was discovered that he had the potentially deadly infection and that it had spread to his lungs.

The Funnell family is furious at Blacktown Hospital.

"If they ran tests and checked his vitals, we wouldn't be in this situation,” his aunt, Rhiannon Funnell said.

"He's two and a half years old, and this could prove fatal,"Mr Funnell said.

Xavier Wakefield's family, including his uncle Mark Funnell, pictured, is furious at Blacktown Hospital. Photo: 7 News
Xavier Wakefield's family, including his uncle Mark Funnell, pictured, is furious at Blacktown Hospital. Photo: 7 News

The Health Department has launched an internal investigation.

"We've apologised to the family for their distress; an urgent clinical review and investigation now underway," Medical Director at Blacktown Hospital, Dr Michael Datyner said.

The NSW Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord said the incident highlighted the pressure hospitals are under.

"Every hospital in western Sydney is over stretched and this is the human cost of cuts to the health system."

Doctors have been treating Xavier's infection with intravenous antibiotics and he was in a stable condition on Friday night.

While he is expected to stay in hospital for several days, his family is hoping and praying their little boy will be smiling again soon.