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

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 17:02 · Archive

An inquest jury has ruled that neglect by staff at Leeds General Infirmary contributed to the death of five-month-old Esta High from meningitis in November 2023.

Esta High, five months old, died at Leeds General Infirmary in November 2023. She was admitted to the emergency department with a high temperature and vomiting and later tested positive for Covid. An inquest jury at Wakefield Coroner's Court concluded on Tuesday that Esta died of natural causes contributed to by neglect and that different care would probably have saved or prolonged her life.

Her parents, Lynsey Carr and Leon High, claimed doctors missed vital chances to test for bacterial infection and start antibiotic treatment. The jury found that opportunities were missed as doctors continued with a Covid diagnosis after Esta tested positive for coronavirus. There was no dispute that Esta's cause of death was streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. Lawyers for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust admitted during the inquest that there had been missed opportunities to diagnose the bacterial infection and administer antibiotics.

Ms Carr told the inquest that her concerns were ignored until it was too late. According to the Huddersfield Examiner, Ms Carr described how her family from Leeds was placed in a separate room at the hospital's children's assessment and treatment unit, where she felt staff prioritised isolating Esta due to Covid concerns rather than heeding her parents' worries.

How it is being reported

• Baby girl died after hospital 'missed chances' to save her from meningitisEsta High, five months old, died at Leeds General Infirmary in November 2023 after an inquest jury ruled neglect contributed to her death, finding doctors missed multiple opportunities to diagnose bacterial meningitis and start antibiotic treatmentHuddersfield Examiner · 20 Oct, 16:22
• Hospital neglect contributed to baby death - inquestEsta High died at Leeds General Infirmary days after being admitted in November 2023.BBC Leeds And West Yorkshire · 20 Oct, 16:20

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

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