Mother claims concussed toddler was refused treatment after positive COVID-19 test
A Queensland mother said she was "horrified" when doctors told her they wouldn't treat her concussed toddler because of a positive COVID-19 test.
Deborah Reeves called Triple Zero on Sunday when her three-year-old daughter Wynta fell off a kitchen stool and landed on her head at their home near Gladstone.
She said her little girl's eyes were rolling into the back of her head and her body was twitching, with paramedics saying they were concerned about her condition.
You can sign up for the Today newsletter here. Today
Wynta, three, hit her head when she fell off a kitchen stool and was vomiting, twitching and didn't recognise her mother. Supplied
READ MORE: Dangerous mould drives family out of rental
"Wynta actually vomited in the ambulance the entire way there," Deborah told Today.
When Deborah and Wynta arrived at Gladstone Hospital, she was transferred directly into a treatment room and a rapid antigen test was done, which came back negative.
About half an hour later, Deborah said a doctor came in and checked Wynta's throat, eyes and ears and a PCR test was performed - which returned a positive result.
She said the little girl was then discharged and no treatment was given for the head knock.
"I was very angry. Her head injury should have trumped COVID-19 every time," Deborah said.
READ MORE: Why you should be planning your Christmas holidays now
Wynta had two COVID-19 tests at Gladstone Hospital, one of which returned a positive result. Today/9News
"I don't even know what to say about it to be honest, I'm just so completely speechless.
"When they left us by ourselves and said that we could come home, I stood there for 10 minutes and just thought, 'What do I do now?, and then there was nobody around.
"I didn't see another nurse or another doctor, there was just nobody to be seen, so I got our things and went home."
Deborah took Wynta to see her local GP who said it was likely a concussion she had suffered.
"It's taken her a week to recover. She slept for two days after that," she said.
READ MORE: Why this hospital form infuriated new mum
Wynta's mum said she was sent home without any treatment for the head knock and it has taken a week for her to recover. Supplied
Gladstone Hospital told Today while they cannot comment on an individual case publicly due to patient privacy they had not been contacted by Deborah about the issue.
"We are always looking to improve our service whenever possible and would be happy to meet with Wynta's mother to discuss her concerns, which can be arranged by contacting Gladstone Hospital's Patient Liaison Services," the hospital's executive director, Monica Seth said.
Watch the full segment above
Join the Today show family and give yourself the chance to win great prizes by signing up to our weekly newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox every Wednesday with a special message from Karl and Ally. You can sign up for free here.
We’d love to hear from you
