A five-month-old girl from Leeds died at Leeds General Infirmary after being admitted to the emergency department with a high temperature and vomiting. The child tested positive for coronavirus, and medical staff attributed her symptoms to Covid-19 rather than pursuing additional testing for other conditions.
The girl was subsequently diagnosed with streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. Her parents reported that they repeatedly raised concerns about her deteriorating condition, including the development of a rash and arm movements they feared indicated a seizure, but said their requests for help were not adequately addressed. The family declined medical advice to take their daughter home, citing persistent vomiting and a temperature exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. They indicated that hospital staff appeared prioritized with Covid isolation protocols over responding to parental concerns.
An inquest jury of eleven members concluded that the child died of natural causes contributed to by neglect. The jury determined that had the patient received appropriate care, it would probably have saved or prolonged her life. The girl remained untreated for an extended period before scans revealed meningoencephalitis and streptococcus pneumoniae infection. She was subsequently transferred to intensive care, but died on 6 November.
The child’s mother stated that the family experienced what she characterized as “15 hours that were filled with missed opportunities” during the hospital stay. She emphasized that parental concerns should be taken seriously when caregivers identify potential problems with their children’s health.
The chief medical officer at Leeds teaching hospitals NHS trust issued a statement acknowledging serious failures in care provision and expressing condolences to the family. The trust committed to reviewing the coroner’s findings and recommendations and implementing changes to improve patient safety.
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