Hospital neglect contributed to baby's meningitis death, jury finds

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 18:44 · Archive

An inquest jury found that neglect at an NHS hospital contributed to a five-month-old girl's death from meningitis.

Esta High was taken to Leeds General Infirmary's emergency department in November 2023 with a high temperature and vomiting. She tested positive for Covid and was placed in isolation, but later died from streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. There was no dispute over the cause of death.

An inquest jury of eleven members concluded that Esta 'died of natural causes which was contributed to by neglect'. The jury found that opportunities were missed because doctors maintained a Covid diagnosis rather than testing for and treating the bacterial infection that causes meningitis. Esta's mother, Lynsey Carr, told the inquest that her daughter was a 'happy, healthy, smiling girl' before becoming ill on 31 October 2023. She said the family's concerns were ignored until it was too late and that Esta was 'untreated for 55 hours'.

Lawyers for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust admitted during the inquest that there had been missed opportunities to diagnose the bacterial infection and to administer antibiotics. The jury found that different care would probably have saved or prolonged her life.

How it is being reported

• NHS hospital doctors missed chances to save life of 'happy, healthy' baby girl who died of meningitis, inquest jury findsEsta High died at Leeds General Infirmary in November 2023, days after she was taken into the emergency department with a high temperature and vomiting.Daily Mail · 20 Oct, 19:04
• Baby who died from meningitis may have been saved if tested sooner, inquest findsFive-month-old Esta High died at Leeds General Infirmary in November 2023 after doctors put her symptoms down to Covid-19 A baby girl who died from meningitis may have been saved if doctors had tested her for the infection sooner, rather than putting her symptoms down to Covid, an inquest jury has found. Five-month-old Esta High died at Leeds General Infirmary in November 2023, days after she was taken into the emergency department with a high temperature and vomiting. Continue reading...Guardian World · 20 Oct, 18:37
• Baby girl died at NHS hospital after meningitis 'left untreated for 55 hours'Five-month-old Esta High died at Leeds General Infirmary from meningitis after a series of missed opportunities in hospital to save or prolong her life, an inquest jury foundThe Mirror · 20 Oct, 15:28
• Neglect in hospital contributed to baby's meningitis death, jury rulesNeglect contributed to the death of a five-month-old girl who died from meningitis after opportunities were missed in hospital to save or prolong her life, an inquest jury has found.Sky News · 20 Oct, 13:41

In this story: Esta High · Lynsey Carr · Leon High · Leeds General Infirmary · Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust · Leeds · Wakefield Coroner's Court

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