Horsham mum feels ‘dumped’ by East Surrey Hospital

Rhiannon Hickeson has been in and out of East Surrey Hospital with her daughter, Savannah Worsell, since she was around three-months-old but the family say they are still yet to have a diagnosis.

In a recent statement, a spokesperson for East Surrey Hospital at Redhill apologised and said the hospital has since been in contact with the family.

But Rhiannon described how she felt she had been ‘dumped’.

The 20-year-old said: “They’ve given me all these things that could be wrong with her and then that’s it, not a word.

“I’m not wanting to slag off East Surrey Hospital, but I just think people should be aware of what’s going on.”

Rhiannon also puts the stress and worry of trying to find out what is wrong with her daughter down as the cause for her recent anxiety.

“It’s not nice to worry,” she said. “ If they came to me in a year and said she has a syndrome and that she’ll have developmental problems in the future, they’ve left it three years and I haven’t been able to help her in the way that she needs.

“I’m quite hurt that this has caused quite a big strain on my family and my relationship and it’s about time someone said something,” she added.

As well as being born with bronchilitis and later diagnosed with gastroesophageal-reflux disease and a form of muscle disease, Savannah has had brain scans, heart scans and blood tests to check her chromosomes for a possible genetic disorder. She also has to have regular physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.

A heart scan at nine-months-old detected a hole in one of the valves which may close on its own but will have to be retested in a year.

According to the young mum, Savannah has also been described as having ‘dysmorphic facial figures’, with eyes that are too big and far apart, ears that are too small and low and a nasal bridge that is too far apart.

Rhiannon, who also has a four-year-old son called Tyler, added: “We’ve had the tests done twice and they’ve lost all of the results. They’re expecting me to travel all the way back to East Surrey to have more results and I just think it’s absolutely disgraceful.

“I don’t want to put her through all that again, she’s already been through so much in these 19 months she’s been alive.

“Enough is enough, I want answers,” she continued.

A spokesperson for Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We’re very sorry for any distress Ms Hickeson has been caused. We have been in contact with Ms Hickeson and are working to put things right from here on in.

“The Trust also has a Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) which is available to listen to concerns, suggestions or queries and can help sort out problems quickly on behalf of patients. If any patient experiences similar problems they can contact PALS by telephone on 01737 231958, email: [email protected], or by writing to: PALS, East Surrey Hospital, Canada Avenue, Redhill, Surrey RH1 5RH.”