THE devastated family of a teenager who died after doctors failed to spot a fatal condition plan to sue Poole Hospital.

Hannah Kirby-Brewer, who suffered from cerebral palsy and epilepsy, died after suffering terminal bowel ischemia.

An inquest heard the 13-year-old was admitted to Poole Hospital on June 17 after her parents noticed she was “not herself” and behaving “totally out of character”.

The coroner was told she had a twisted bowel from birth but the condition worsened after a bout of sickness.

She was assessed and taken to the paediatric ward where a number of doctors noted she was critically unwell.

The Winchester inquest heard evidence and statements from nine Poole Hospital staff, who were mostly in agreement that they thought she was suffering from either an infection or bowel blockage, but were unable to determine which without investigation.

On June 18 Hannah was seen by a consultant at around 8.15am but it took until 3.30pm to complete a CT scan, which showed she had “terminal” bowel ischemia.

She was transferred to Southampton General Hospital at 7.30pm, which is a centre of excellence for paediatric surgery and care, and was operated on within an hour and a half.

Lara Kitteringham, consultant paediatric surgeon for University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said the state of her bowel was “irreversible” despite 45 minutes of trying to improve it.

Hannah died in the early hours of the morning on June 19.

The inquest heard from Poole Hospital’s medical director Dr Robert Talbot, who criticised staff for spending “too much time talking and not enough doing” on June 18.

He said staff could have ordered the CT scan nearly seven hours earlier.

Following Hannah’s death he produced a critical review report, which recommended the hospital improved its scoring system for the severity of children’s conditions on admission and communications with Southampton General Hospital.

He said all of the recommendations have been implemented.

Senior coroner for central Hampshire, Grahame Short, said: “This is a natural disease. It’s something we know now. Hannah was born with a bowel that was abnormal and that became twisted in the time leading up to her death.

“I find that the delay in ordering the CT scan was significant.

“However, there’s no clear evidence that surgery even at that time, even if carried out immediately after a scan, would have prevented death from occurring.”

He ruled a verdict of death by natural causes.

After the inquest, family solicitor Carol Maunder said: “The family were disappointed with the treatment of their daughter.

“Children with disabilities such as Hannah’s need to be managed differently to ordinary children.

“We are investigating a civil claim.”