Toddler suffering
a broken leg sent home from hospital

A furious mum has told 
how doctors sent her young son home with a broken leg after claiming it was just a ‘sprain’.
Young Keigan Van Dyk with brother Bryan.Young Keigan Van Dyk with brother Bryan.
Young Keigan Van Dyk with brother Bryan.

Twenty-two-month-old Keigan Van Dyk was rushed to hospital by his frantic mum Julia McAuley after he fell in their Moira home.

A&E medics at the 
Lagan Valley Hospital x-rayed the tot’s ankle but didn’t 
detect anything was wrong so sent Julia and her son home and told her to give him 
Calpol.

Julia followed the doctor’s instructions and put Keigan to bed but the child became restless and cried most of the night.

The next morning Keigan’s father took him to the Royal Victoria Hospital where another x-ray of Keigan’s leg showed a hairline fracture in his tibia bone.

Julia explained: “I told the doctor he had hurt his leg but I didn’t know where exactly and Keigan couldn’t tell us. He couldn’t put his foot to the ground.

“He is forever running 
and climbing - a real wee 
boy.”

She went on: “They took an x-ray of his ankle and the doctor came back to say it was fine - probably a sprain and to give him Calpol.”

The mum of three 
continued; “I gave him Calpol before bed and he was 
really sleepy but he woke 
in the middle of the night crying and he couldn’t straighten his leg so I nursed him and his dad took him to the Royal 
hospital first thing the next morning.”

Julia continued: “The doctor felt his leg and Keigan squealed when they pressed on his bone. An x-ray showed he has a hairline fracture in his tibia bone so he is now in a cast and all you can see is his toes.

“He was fine as soon as they put the cast on.”

“I’m shocked - I can’t believe it. I knew something was wrong but you put your faith in the doctors. I took him to the Lagan Valley in good faith. I feel awful he was left in so much pain over night and I was only following their instructions.

“I’ll never be back at the Lagan Valley. In hindsight I should’ve known better and just gone straight to the Royal but it is our local hospital,” the mum said.

A spokesperson for 
the South Eastern Trust 
said: “We have reviewed the x-ray and would ask the parents to get in touch 
with our Complaints Department so that we can discuss it fully with them.”