A SEVEN-year-old girl who died of a stomach bug had to wait more than an hour for an ambulance, an inquest heard.

Malaika Adam, a pupil at St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, in Basildon, died in May of what at the time thought to be gastroenteritis.

A paediatric expert claimed the time it took for an ambulance to arrive could have been “critical” in the lead up to her death.

A post-mortem examination has since given a provisional cause of death as peritonitis, caused by acute appendicitis with perforation.

John Orr, a paediatric surgeon with over 35 years’ experience, was giving his expert opinion at the inquest into Malaika’s death on Friday over the treatment she received before her death.

The coroner’s court in Chelmsford heard that the ambulance took an hour to arrive after they were called by Malaika’s family on the evening of Friday, May 15 this year.

But her mum, Donna Howe, later said it was actually an hour between her first call to 111 and a second call to find out where a paramedic was. It was then another 45 minutes before one arrived.

Asked if this time would have affected Malaika’s death, Mr Orr said: “An hour could have been critical if there had been a response rapidly to that 111 call.

“Malaika was clearly not well.”

Malaika was sent home from school on Wednesday, May 13, after complaining of a stomach ache.

The following day she and her mum, of Polsteads, Vange, went to see out of hours doctor Suren Sivakumar at the Thurrock Community Hospital in Grays.

There Dr Sivakumar was told by Malaika and Ms Howe of symptoms including vomiting, hallucinations and mottled skin.

After a short examination, Dr Sivakumar diagnosed Malaika with gastroenteritis, and said if pain continued the next day to contact a GP or the out of hour’s service.

Ms Howe told the court Malaika had complained to Dr Sivakumar of pains to her privates. She says at the time she raised the possibility of appendicitis with the doctor.

She questioned Dr Sivakumar why he didn’t examine further. She said: “Malaika said about a pain. I told her to tell the doctor that her tummy lower down did hurt.

She added: “She couldn’t lie down. Was that not an indication?” Dr Sivakumar said he didn’t recall the conversation.

Looking back, Dr Sivakumar said: “I was very sad to hear of Malaika’s death. As a result I’ve left out of hours but now in a case like this I would say to contact me the next day if there are any concerns or are worried about a child.”

Reflecting on Dr Sivakumar’s evidence, Mr Orr said both diagnosis’ were possible, but that it was “understandable” that Dr Sivakumar diagnosed gastroenteritis, adding it’s the most “common diagnosis” when acute appendicitis is missed.

He also added Dr Sivakumar at the time gave Ms Howe “appropriate advice”.

The hearing was adjourned until a later date for the ambulance service to be questioned.