A LOCUM doctor at Whiston Hospital who failed to detect an infection that killed a nine-year-old boy has been suspended for four months.

Dr Thiagarajan Sundaravadivelu was not struck off despite a tribunal finding his actions amounted to misconduct, impairing his fitness to practise.

The patient, who had complex health needs, was first diagnosed with a chest infection by his GP before his condition worsened and he was taken to hospital in December 2013.

He was examined by the department’s clinical director, who diagnosed him with sepsis as well as suspected lower respiratory tract infection.

But the tribunal found Dr Sundaravadivelu, who took over the case at midnight, failed to take into account the director’s sepsis diagnosis before deciding to discharge him.

He only confirmed a more minor infection and provided antibiotics to take at home at 0.25am. By 6.15am, the boy had died.

Dr Sundaravadivelu, who stopped working at Whiston shortly after the incident, admitted at the medical practitioners’ tribunal in March that he had failed to do enough to diagnose the life-threatening condition.

The tribunal found he did not adequately examine the boy, or take an adequate history from his mother. It said his conduct “would be regarded as deplorable by fellow practitioners”, but added it was an isolated incident. After his suspension, the doctor will face a review before going back to work.

A spokeswoman for St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: “The doctor was referred to the General Medical Council after the trust found failings in the care he provided to a patient.

“The GMC has decided to suspend him for four months. The doctor has not worked at the trust since soon after the incident.”