Decision to send boy home from Mersey Community Hospital questioned

Northdown mother Kristy Fielding said she went to the Latrobe-based hospital on Sunday afternoon with her six-year-old son Axel who was complaining of a sore leg after he had an accident on a slide.

She said he was complaining of pain in his leg, which he couldn't bear weight on.

Ms Fielding said her son was seen by a doctor who inspected his injury, but would not conduct an X-ray on account of Axel's age.

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"I was very upset," Mrs Fielding said. "They sent us home but we felt that wasn't good enough, because he couldn't bear weight on the leg, so we took him to the Launceston General Hospital. They (at Launceston) took one look at him. He looked pale and was crying, and they did an X-ray.

"They found a segond fracture on his knee.

"He has a plaster on and has to go back to the fracture clinic."

Ms Fielding said she was pleased she had sought another opinion and was concerned about the decision to send her son home from the Mersey without an X-ray, especially given she had previously had a similar experience with her son at the hospital.

Mrs Fielding said she questioned whether it was a case that they didn't want to call someone in to conduct the X-ray or if it was due to concerns around the cost.

"I am very concerned and I am worried," she said.

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"I am worried a poor child isn't going to get the attention that they need.

"We won't be returning to the Mersey, we will be going to Launceston."

A Tasmanian Health Service spokesman said they would not comment on the case of an individual case and a review would be conducted as is standard practice.

"The Tasmanian Health Service takes its responsibility to patient confidentiality extremely seriously, and it would not be appropriate to discuss patient details publicly," they said.

"At all times, clinicians make decisions regarding the care of patients and determine what treatment and intervention they may need.

"As per standard practice, the Mersey Community Hospital will review the case."