General · 5 June 2026
Child, 5, hurt by wrong pessary prescription
A five-year-old girl was left hurt and upset after a vaginal pessary was wrongly given to her, showing serious care failures. A physician associate at a GP surgery in the East Midlands prescribed it, but a doctor approved it without discussion, despite PAs not having prescribing rights. The health ombudsman found many failures, and the girl's mother was even questioned over potential sexual abuse.
Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs