Review criticises care of dead dentist phobic girl
A review has revealed that the care of a girl who died because of her phobia of dentists lacked clarity.
Sophie Waller, eight from Cornwall, died after she refused eat, drink and sleep when her baby teeth began to come loose.
Despite having eight teeth removed under general anaesthetic in November 2005 she died four weeks later because her phobia had not been cured. She lost 11kg in weight.
The findings of Local Safeguarding Children Board’s review into Waller’s case have only just been revealed.
They suggest that there had been a lack of communication between the agencies which were responsible for Waller’s care.
It was also found that no written plan had been made for Waller upon her discharge from hospital.
The review concluded that recording and communication of decisions made about a child’s care had to be improved and conveyed to all professionals and carers involved in the care.
Speaking in February 2009, Dr Emma Carlyon, coroner, said that the seriousness of Waller’s phobia had been unnoticed by the authorities and suggested that if something had been done that her death could have been prevented.
The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust has apologised to the child’s family.
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