'Covered in ulcers': Mum accuses hospital of neglect in caring for seriously ill toddler

Queensland heath authorities have denied a mother’s claims that hospital staff neglected her seriously ill daughter and “didn’t notice” a bacterial infection, ulcers, and a rash, that all developed in a matter of hours.

Lillian has spent most of her 14 months in hospital with a serious heart defect and other health complications including left vocal cord paralysis, partial deafness, and chronic lung disease.

Her mother Angela Harris said she left the Queensland Children’s Hospital for the day to spend time with her other four children, and when she returned her daughter had developed the bacterial infection pseudomonas.

She claims the infection was in Lillian’s breathing tube, lungs and urine, which went unnoticed by hospital staff.

“I pulled Lillian’s dummy out of her mouth to find her whole inside of her mouth covered in what looks like to be ulcers or something, and they didn’t even notice them, her tounge [sic] is so swollen,” Ms Harris wrote on the Lillians Harris Heart Journey Facebook page.

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“Then they put cream on her neck for me to go have lunch come back to see it has burnt her and made her neck swollen and they didn’t even notice that either.

“Can’t even leave for 1 day without the neglect in this hospital,” she added.

The mother-of-five said she was “taking this further” and called the level of her daughter’s care “disgusting”.

Patient monitored 24/7, says hospital

In a statement to Yahoo News Australia, a Children’s Health Queensland (CHQ) spokesperson said Lillian has a dedicated nurse at her bedside to monitor her condition and provide care 24 hours a day.

“Lillian is receiving antibiotic treatment for a pseudomonas infection and is being monitored by the hospital’s infectious diseases team,” the spokesperson said.

“Mouth ulcers can be common in critically ill children. Lillian’s ulcers have been investigated and appropriately treated.

“A rash on Lillian’s neck was identified and treated with Cavalon cream – this cream is commonly used for similar rashes. Lillian’s skin reacted to this cream and it was removed. The rash has now resolved.”

CHQ said the Queensland Children’s Hospital staff continue to work closely with Lillian’s family to ensure the best possible outcome for Lillian while she is in hospital.

Lillian’s family have set up a GoFundMe page to help fundraise towards ongoing medical expenses.

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