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A five-year-old girl has been left in a state of trauma and physical distress following a grave error by a physician associate at a GP practice in the East Midlands. A recent investigation by the parliamentary and health service ombudsman highlighted multiple failings in the girl’s care, which culminated in a misdiagnosis and an inappropriate prescription of a vaginal pessary.
A Series of Critical Missteps
The incident unfolded when the young patient was seen by a physician associate, who suspected she had thrush and subsequently recommended a vaginal pessary and cream. Unbeknownst to her mother, who had assumed her daughter was being examined by a fully qualified GP, the physician associate did not possess the authority to prescribe medication independently. The ombudsman’s report revealed that there had been no prior discussion between the physician associate and a supervising GP regarding the prescription.
Despite the mother raising concerns about the treatment’s appropriateness and the size of the pessary, she was assured that it was suitable. Alarmingly, the report noted that vaginal pessaries are inappropriate for prepubescent children, and the symptoms presented by the girl were more indicative of vulvovaginitis than thrush.
Distressing Consequences
The aftermath of the prescription was harrowing. After the pessary was inserted, the girl began to bleed and screamed in agony. The mother
