'I wasn't listened to': Mum of Jax Jefferys, 5, of Waterlooville who died from Strep A tells inquest into his death of her heartache
A mum has told an inquest the heartbreaking story of how she felt doctors were not listening to her when she took her ill five-year-old son to get medical attention. He later died.
A week-long inquest into the death of a five-year-old has started - and has heard he died after a Strep A infection was not diagnosed by doctors.
Jax Jefferys, who attended Morelands Primary School, died on Thursday, December 1, 2022 after contracting Group A Streptococcal (iGAS), Winchester Coroner’s Court heard today (June 8).
Despite a 999 call-out, a visit to his local GP and being taken to Queen Alexandra Hospital Emergency Department, the young boy died in a matter of days after first contracting symptoms which presented as coughing fits, a high temperature, a rash, low oxygen and high heart rate.
During the first day of inquest proceedings, senior coroner Christopher Wilkinson heard from Jax’s mum, Charlene McCormack who said he “looked really ill” in the days before his death.
She explained his symptoms started on November 28 when Jax was awoken with a coughing fit that was unable to be relieved despite the use of his inhaler.
The Waterlooville mum called 999, where paramedics responded and advised to observe him and contact the GP if symptoms persisted. The next day Jax attended school, but was sent home unwell prompting Ms McCormack to take him to their local GP - Southbourne Surgery.
He was prescribed steroids and given a diagnosis of croup. Jax’s symptoms continued despite the medication administered and his mum took him to QA.
Charlene said: “I believe he was barely conscious. I don’t think I was listened to, I asked to change the doctor because I didn’t think I was being listened to. The doctor was trying to talk to a five-year-old who was barely conscious and not listening to me so I asked to change doctors before the Influenza A swabs.
“I fought back initially because they said they believed he had tonsillitis but I didn’t believe that. He looked atrocious. He looked really poorly.”
The court heard how after observations and blood tests, which revealed Jax had Influenza A, he was taken home in the early hours of December 1, with the tests revealing he was showing signs of dehydration.
Within hours, Ms McCormack and her husband rushed Jax to hospital after he complained of being unable to feel his legs. During the frantic car ride to the emergency department, he became unresponsive and his mum had to do CPR on him.
In a statement, which was read out in court, Jax’s mum said: “When Jax died, my heart was taken away. He was my only little boy. He was such a wanted and loved child. Jax was unforgettable - everyone had a story about him. He was an amazing boy.”
More to follow