health
Girl, 5, traumatised after GP assistant wrongly prescribed vaginal pessary, report finds
Mother, who thought daughter was being examined by GP, says girl began to bleed and scream in pain after device was inserted
TL;DR
- A five-year-old girl suffered significant harm after a physician associate incorrectly prescribed a vaginal pessary.
- The physician associate suspected thrush, but the pessary was inappropriate for a prepubescent child and caused bleeding and severe pain.
- The ombudsman found multiple failures in care, including inadequate GP supervision and a lack of questioning by the pharmacy.
- The mother was misled into believing her daughter was being seen by a GP.
- The incident resulted in trauma for the child and distress for the mother, leading to recommendations for compensation and improved practices.
- The case has reignited debate about the role and supervision of physician associates in healthcare settings.