Parents seek 'accountability' after baby's death

The parents of a five-month-old girl whose death from meningitis was contributed to by hospital staff's neglect have said they want to see "real accountability".

Esta High died at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) in November 2023, days after she was taken into the emergency department with a high temperature and vomiting.

Following an inquest at Wakefield Coroner's Court, a jury concluded Esta "died of natural causes contributed to by neglect" and different care would probably have "saved or prolonged her life".

Her parents, Lynsey Carr and Leon High, have now called for changes to be made and for the General Medical Council to carry out a full investigation.

Esta's inquest heard she was a "happy, healthy, smiling girl" before she became ill on 31 October 2023.

Her parents took her to LGI as she was suffering from a high temperature and vomiting, and she later tested positive for Covid-19.

Her cause of death was given as Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis.

Jurors concluded that opportunities "to save or prolong her life" had been missed, as doctors continued to focus on a Covid diagnosis after Esta tested positive.

Her parents claimed doctors missed vital chances to test for a bacterial infection and start antibiotic treatment, with her mother saying their concerns were ignored until it was too late.

Carr said the couple had refused advice to take Esta home as her conditioned worsened with a fever and persistent vomiting.

By late afternoon on 2 November, Esta could not be roused and the inquest jury heard how scans and other tests showed evidence of meningoencephalitis and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Esta was taken to intensive care, where she died on 6 November.

The couple hopes by raising awareness of Esta's case, parents' concerns would be "taken more seriously".

"We want to give parents the confidence and autonomy to question doctors and nurses if they are not confident with what they're saying," said Carr.

"Nobody knows your child like you. We need to make sure this stops happening."

Carr urged hospital staff to take parents' concerns seriously and warned against dismissing their worries as anxiety.

"If we had been listened to, Esta would still be alive," said Carr.

High said there had been a "catalogue of errors" during Esta's time in hospital, and the couple now wanted to see "real accountability".

He is calling on the General Medical Council to carry out an investigation into "the people who were supposed to be caring for Esta".

The BBC has contacted the General Medical Council for comment.

During the inquest, lawyers for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust admitted that opportunities had been missed to diagnose the bacterial infection and administer antibiotics.

The trust's chief medical officer, Dr Elizabeth Garthwaite, said previously said the trust was "truly sorry we failed Esta".

"We recognise that serious failures occurred in the care provided to Esta and that these failures had devastating consequences," said Garthwaite.

"We are committed to responding openly and fully, and to taking any further action necessary to improve patient safety."

She said the trust had already taken steps to "strengthen" its services, including improving the recognition and management of deteriorating children, enhancing staff training in paediatric sepsis, strengthening escalation processes and implementing Martha's Rule to "help ensure concerns raised by patients and families are heard and acted upon".

The trust has been approached for further comment.

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