A traumatised mum received a sympathy card from her GP saying her daughter was dead after a visit to A&E - when she wasn't.
Ella, 18, from Toxteth, went to Royal Liverpool Hospital 's A&E on Thursday, March 3, after suffering from 'unbearable' stomach pain and severe nausea. After visiting A&E and having multiple tests, the doctors sent her home and instructed her to come back if the pain got worse.
Around one week later on Tuesday, March 8, Ella's mum, Deena, received a 'Sorry for your loss' card in the post from the family GP, Elms Medical Centre, saying they were sorry for her daughter's death. The card read: "Family of Ella, The GP's offer their condolences at this time. If you would like to speak to a GP or be referred to counselling service please ring reception. The Elms Medical Centre."
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Deena said she was "traumatised" and "upset" when she opened the card and described how her heart fell through her chest.
She told The ECHO : "After going to A&E the pain went away so we just got on with it. Everything was fine at the hospital and it was just like a normal A&E visit.
"Around a week later the post came and I didn't think anything of it, it wasn't until I sat down later on and opened the card, which said private and confidential. I saw it was a sympathy card and was confused, but when I opened it my heart fell down my chest.
"I started to call my daughter and she didn't pick up the phone so I started panicking. I don't know why because I knew she wasn't dead and I saw her that morning, it was just distressing to see."
Deena took the card to her GP and told them about the mistake. When she handed over the letter the team said they received an email to say her daughter's medical records were updated to say she died at The Royal Liverpool Hospital on March 3.
Deena said: "I asked them to show me the email so I went to get my daughter's permission and signature, and went back for the letter. Seeing on paper it saying my daughter was dead made me angry, upset and choked me. I spoke to The Royal and they said they would get back to me.
"I just want to know how this happened and who is responsible because my daughter was wiped from the NHS system and the GP had to reverse it all."
The ECHO understands a third-party party put the information through their systems incorrectly, causing an email to be sent to the GP practice when Ella's medical records were updated.
