A devastated father has said that he took his young daughter to hospital A&E on three separate occasions prior to her being admitted to Intensive Care where she later died from Strep A. Five-year old Stella-Lily McCorkindale became the ninth UK child to pass away from the bacterial infection outbreak after initially feeling unwell on November 26.
Dad Robert McCorkindale, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, said 'amazing' Stella-Lily would have had 'two days extra of fighting' had more drastic action been taken by the hospital sooner. "They should have tested her for Strep A on the Monday [November 28], by the time they induced her Stella had given up," he explained.
The bacteria can cause impetigo, scarlet fever and strep throat, which are often treatable with antibiotics, but in a small number of cases it can result in serious disease.
READ MORE: Five-year-old girl dies from Strep A infection taking death toll to nine
Mr McCorkindale paid a glowing tribute to his daughter via Mirror Online. "She was a great child, parents came up to me all the time saying they wished their children were like Stella-Lily," he added. Everyone that met her loved her. She is amazing. She didn't like it when children played alone and when she is around she was with them. She is so kind and caring and thoughtful."
He said he first took her to Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children on November 28 and had to carry her in because she felt too ill to walk. However, after explaining how she was feeling to a doctor, the pair were told she needed electrolytes as she was dehydrated.
After being told Lucozade would help her situation, Mr McCorkindale said after five minutes he felt like an 'overbearing father' and felt bad for bringing Stella-Lily in. He went on to reveal his daughter then went to spend the night with her mum - who he is not in a relationship with - before she became more unwell the following day.
A second trip ensued where another doctor helped with hydration, but by November 30, Stella-Lily's condition had severely deteriorated. Mr McCorkindale said: "By 5pm on Wednesday Stella had said 'mummy, I feel like I'm dying'. and so we took her back. "I shouted at them that we were not going anywhere until we saw a doctor. In 15 minutes, this doctor ordered tests and found she had a chest infection and they said 'we think this is toxic shock now'.
"They weren't 100% sure it was Strep A, and they feared it was sepsis too because the blood was infected. The blood culture came back for a Strep A a few hours later."
Mr McCorkindale said that once his daughter was admitted staff went "above and beyond for her". Stella-Lily also died for five minutes while battling the infection. He said: "All the doctors on the ICU ward did everything for her, they bent over backwards and treated her like a princess.
READ MORE: The 'red flag' Strep A symptoms that show up in children on throat and skin
"She was a wee bit delirious but she still had her sass when she corrected doctors to say her name is 'Stella-Lily' not 'Stella'. By 3am Thursday, her whole body shut down and she died for five minutes and they brought her back. They had to keep her in an induced coma to get antibiotics in her."
He added: "The A&E was disgraceful until that Wednesday. They did everything for her, they bent over backwards and there were doctors coming on their day off to try and help her. She touched all their hearts. They did everything they could and it just got worse.
"A couple of days later they were going to have to amputate her wee legs and we thought 'okay as long as we can get her out of here'. Her pupils changed and they did a CT scan and found she was brain damaged and we thought 'okay let's try and wake her up'. And on the Monday it was time to go sleep and they took her off everything."
He added: "The only thing that breaks my heart is that I can forgive the doctor on Tuesday [November 29] because she cured her dehydration and I have no bad feelings for her."
A spokesman for Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children told the Mirror: "We send our deepest condolences to the McCorkindale family following the passing of Stella-Lilly. Every aspect of the care Stella-Lilly received is being carefully reviewed. The death of a child is a heart-breaking event for family and friends and in such tragic circumstances we give the family space to grieve.
"Hospital management will be available to meet Stella-Lily's family at a time that suits them. Our thoughts are with them at this incredibly sad time."
A review is being conducted into Stella-Lilly's care and the hospital has offered to meet with her family.
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