Start broad spectrum antibiotics and arrange a CT brain scan

You prescribe some cefotaxime and arrange a CT scan. Rory’s mother does not at first understand why it is necessary for him to have antibiotics intravenously as he does not have a temperature. She calls her boyfriend who is not aware of these developments.

You arrange for a CT scan which will happen in about one hour. Meanwhile you are asked to review two other patients in the ED. The first is a two year old girl with diarrhea and features of dehydration. You start some nasogastric rehydration and also plan to review her later. The second is a six week old with breathing difficulties and coryza. You arrange a chest radiograph and send some blood tests.

When you return Rory is not in the bed space where he was assessed before. One of the nurses explains that she saw an asleep infant being taken out by a man and a woman. The man told her that he had been discharged.

What would you like to do?