A seriously ill boy who died of meningitis was discharged from a Victorian regional hospital in worse condition than when he was admitted, a coroner has heard.
An inquest is investigating the death of 19-month-old Noah Souvatzis, who was on holiday with his parents in Myrtleford, northeast Victoria, on December 29, 2021, when he became ill.
Despite the young man vomiting, crying for hours and having a high fever, his parents Ben and Steph were unable to get an appointment with the GP.
They decided to take him to an urgent care center in the city after he became severely lethargic, unable to keep fluids down and unresponsive.
The family arrived at the Alpine Health clinic, where they spent most of their time waiting in a shipping container as the state’s healthcare system battled the Covid-19 pandemic.
The nurse at the facility monitored Noah’s vital signs and noted symptoms of lethargy, he was alert at times, but had an increased heart and breathing rate and was unable to keep fluids down.
An inquest is investigating the death of 19-month-old Noah Souvatzis (pictured), who was on holiday with his parents in Myrtleford on December 29, 2021, when he felt unwell, vomited, cried for hours and had a high fever.
Ben and Steph Souvatzis are pictured with their son Noah.
“That day he was very different, he was moaning,” said Mr. Souvatzis.
‘It wasn’t the same as crying. It was a sharp sound, a moan, as if he was in pain.
Fearing that Noah’s condition was deteriorating, the nurses told Noah’s parents to take him to Wangaratta Hospital, which had a pediatrics department.
During the trip, Souvatzis recalled trying to wake up her son, who was strangely falling asleep but was still vomiting and gasping even though nothing was coming out.
Upon arrival, the Souvatzis were concerned to see the “disorganization and panic” of Northeast Health Wangaratta staff responding to COVID-19.
‘It didn’t fill me with much positivity that my son was going to be looked after properly. But what other options did we have? Mr. Souvatzis said.
Noah was seen by a new doctor who diagnosed the boy with viral gastroenteritis and monitored him during his three-hour stay.
Even though his vital signs returned to a normal range, Souvatzis said her son remained lethargic, limp, unresponsive and unable to absorb fluids.
‘I played a Wiggles song on my phone. Noah loved The Wiggles. They were his life,” said Mrs. Souvatzis.
“He didn’t even seem to recognize the sound.”
Noah (pictured) was described by his parents as a kind boy who loved cuddles and making people laugh and smile.
Despite Mrs. Souvatzis’ concern that her son was still not well, the doctor made the decision to discharge Noah.
“I remember feeling relief because Noah had started vomiting again…because I thought that would mean (the doctor) wouldn’t make us leave anymore.”
Noah was discharged anyway.
‘He looked horrible. He was pale. He couldn’t keep his head up and was falling everywhere,” Mr Souvatzis said.
“He was sick when he was admitted to the hospital, but now he has deteriorated. He was much worse than before he arrived.
His parents took him to a motel, but rushed him to the urgent care center in Benalla after he started making strange squeaks and his face became distorted.
Nurses and GPs ordered Noah to be rushed back to Wangaratta Hospital and he began to suffer seizures during the journey there.
The Souvatzis told the inquest that staff at Northeast Health Wangaratta Hospital (pictured) showed “disorganization and panic”. A hospital representative apologized to the family on Monday.
Noah’s parents (pictured) told the inquest that antibiotics could have saved their little boy
He was rushed to the Royal Children’s Hospital after he deteriorated further and was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis.
At 3:11 p.m. on December 30, Noah was declared brain dead.
Outside the coroner’s court, Noah’s parents remembered their son as a beautiful, gentle boy who loved cuddles and making others laugh and smile.
“We want a thorough investigation into the multiple failures that occurred that day,” Mr. Souvatzis told reporters.
‘We want to prevent what happened to Noah from happening to other Australian children.
“We know our little boy would still be here today if all medical services provided him with the expected level of care.”
A Northeast Health Wangaratta representative admitted on Monday that the care provided to Noah was inappropriate during his first presentation and apologized to his family.
Noah Souvatzis (pictured) was just 19 months old when he fell ill while on holiday with his parents.
