An inquest into the death of a five-month-old girl has determined that medical staff missed critical opportunities to diagnose and treat a bacterial infection, with the condition going undetected for an extended period while coronavirus was initially blamed for her symptoms.
Esta High was brought to Leeds General Infirmary’s emergency department with a high temperature and vomiting. After testing positive for coronavirus, medical personnel focused on that diagnosis rather than investigating other potential causes. Her parents reported that staff dismissed their concerns about worsening symptoms, including a rash and involuntary arm movements. The family was placed in isolation, which they believed reflected greater concern for Covid precautions than addressing their daughter’s deteriorating condition.
The inquest jury, comprised of five women and six men, concluded that Esta died from natural causes contributed to by neglect. They determined that had she received appropriate care, it would probably have saved or prolonged her life. Testing eventually revealed streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis, but by that time, the infection had progressed significantly. She died on 6 November after spending time in intensive care.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust acknowledged serious failures in the care provided to Esta and expressed deep apologies to her family. Officials stated they would carefully review the coroner’s findings and recommendations, committing to addressing identified safety concerns. Legal representatives emphasized the importance of implementing lessons learned to prevent similar incidents and improve overall patient safety protocols.
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