A devastated father has revealed that he took his sick daughter to hospital on three separate occasions before she died of the Strep A virus.
Five-year-old Stella-Lily McCorkindale tragically became the UK's ninth victim of the infection, following a rise in cases across the nation.
Her father Robert has since said that he had taken her to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children's accident and emergency unit three days in a row from Monday, November 28, after Stella-Lily began feeling unwell.
Per Metro UK, Robert stated that he was made to feel like "an overbearing father," with medical professionals advising him to hydrate his daughter with the energy soft drink Lucozade.
The hospital visits followed a weekend of sickness for little Stella-Lily - who had been suffering from a cold and fever for two days before her first hospital visit. It was too late when she was finally admitted, however, and she died on Monday (December 5).
Her family spoke to The Mirror, where they detailed their frustration at the hospital's treatment of their daughter. The hospital has since offered to meet with the family, and a review is currently being conducted into Stella-Lily's care.
"I think she would have had two extra days of fighting. They should have tested her for Strep A on the Monday [November 28], by the time they induced her, Stella had given up," Robert told the outlet.
"I carried her in because she couldn't walk. The doctor looked at me and said what was wrong and I said she is very sick. She then asked why did you bring her [Stella-Lily] here and I was like 'my daughter can't even walk' and I told them everything. They asked if I gave her Lucozade and I said 'no she drinks water', and they said she needed the electrolytes because she was dehydrated," he recalled.
"They put a wooden stick on her tongue and said it was viral and said she just needed to be hydrated with Lucozade. In less than five minutes I was convinced I was an overbearing father and I felt bad for bringing my child there," he added.
During the second hospital trip, Robert said that a doctor helped with Stella-Lily's dehydration, but that she was sent home for a second time.
According to Express, the father-of-one explained that the next day his daughter had said she felt like she was "dying," and she was promptly taken to the hospital for the third day in a row.
In less than half an hour, a doctor ran some tests and discovered that she had a chest infection, telling Robert: "We think this is toxic shock now." A few hours later, they concluded that Stella-Lily was suffering from Strep A. Over the next few days, the young girl's situation became progressively worse, with Stella-Lily even dying for five minutes while battling the infection, being induced into a coma, and eventually sustaining brain damage.
"On the Monday it was time to go sleep and they took her off everything," Robert revealed. He said he will never be able to forgive the first doctor who sent Stella-Lily away during her initial hospital visit.
"She was a great child, parents came up to me all the time saying they wished their children were like Stella-Lily. 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," Robert said of his only child.
A spokesperson 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."
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