A toddler who took a tumble on a trampoline was left in agony for four days after doctors failed to diagnose a chipped bone.

Dolly-Rose Gordon fell on her knee while playing in the back garden of her grandmother’s house in Swale Avenue, Rushenden.

Gran Michelle Gordon said: “She was in agony and sobbing her heart out so I drove her and her mum to Medway Maritime Hospital. Doctors took an X-ray but said Dolly-Rose had badly sprained her leg and told us to encourage her to walk.”

But the 18-month-old tot continued to scream and needed painkillers during the night.

Four days later mum-of-two Gina Gordon, of West Street, Blue Town, received a call from Medway saying they had looked at her daughter’s X-ray again and found a chipped bone.

She said: “They told me to take Dolly-Rose back immediately because she needed a full-leg cast.”

Mrs Gordon snr, 51, who has seven other grandchildren, said: “It’s disgusting, especially when they made Dolly-Rose walk. She was screaming all day. It must have hurt.

“Dolly-Rose had been playing on the trampoline in my back garden and then all of a sudden she landed on her leg. She couldn’t walk she was in so much pain. I immediately knew something was wrong.”

The accident happened on Sunday, August 27.

Medway Foundation Trust which runs the hospital has apologised for Dolly-Rose’s “substantial discomfort” and said it would learn from the incident.

James Lowell, director of clinical operations, said: “We always aim to get our diagnoses right first time and I am sorry we did not get it right when Dolly-Rose first came to us.

“We know certain fractures are hard to detect and will not always be immediately obvious, even to trained, skilled doctors.

“This is why every X-ray taken in our emergency department is reviewed by a consultant or senior radiologist. I am confident Dolly-Rose will receive the best of care from us going forward.

"We will also be discussing her case individually with the doctor who originally treated her and more widely within the Emergency Department to ensure we learn from this.”

Trampoline warning

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has warned of the dangers of trampolines.

A report in conjunction with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine says there has been a huge increase in trampoline sales over the past 15 years which has led to a record number of visits to emergency departments.

It says: “Bouncing on a trampoline is a source of aerobic exercise which can be great fun. But there is a downside. Trampolining injuries range from minor bruises and sprains to life-changing compound fractures and spinal injuries.

“The growing toll has led clinicians to raise concerns about the activity.”

It estimates A&E departments in England treat more than 13,000 trampoline injuries a year. Three-quarters of the injuries happen at home. Most at risk are eight-year-olds.

Nets help stop children falling off the trampoline but do not prevent awkward landings, says the report. Most common injuries are to the elbow, wrist, forearm, hand and collar bone. It says trampolining is not suitable for children under six.

Sixty per cent of injuries are caused by more than one person bouncing on a trampoline at the same time. Almost half of injuries happen when there is a lack of adult supervision. Children have been hurt while being supervised by adults who had been drinking.