A distraught mother said her two-year-old son died after the symptoms of his serious illness were missed until just hours before he passed away.
Vicky Southern said her toddler Alfie Coxon, from Runcorn, Cheshire, woke up on April 14 holding his ears and neck with a body temperature above 39C – way above the normal 36.9C.
A nurse at Halton General Hospital in Runcorn diagnosed Alfie with an ear infection and sent him home with antibiotics, Ms Southern said.
But just eight hours later, her son was declared dead by doctors at another hospital, who said he passed away from meningococcal sepsis. Ms Southern believes he may also have suffered from meningitis.
Ms Southern, 28, said key symptoms including his high temperature, cold hands and feet and sore neck were all signs which missed how serious his condition was.
Vicky Southern said her toddler Alfie Coxon, from Runcorn, Cheshire, woke up on April 14 holding his ears and neck with a body temperature above 39C
She said her son ‘kept moaning’ but the doctor reassured her he was fine to go home.
They were discharged at 2pm with antibiotics, although Ms Southern says she left without being given proper instructions on how to monitor his condition.
Alfie’s auntie Jen Southern, speaking on behalf of Vicky, said she does not think the boy was seen by a doctor during his time in the urgent care centre.
Under the hospital’s urgent care procedure, patients should been seen by a triage nurse who will prioritise the case urgency, and they are then seen by a clinical nurse practitioner or general practitioner.
The young boy’s condition became worse as he started to be sick, dehydrated and less alert.
By 8pm he was rushed into Warrington Hospital A & E and tiny purple spots began to appear on his skin, while his hand and feet turned blue. Despite doctors best efforts to resuscitate him, Alfie passed away at 10.15pm.
The disease is caused by the same bacteria as meningitis but manifests as severe and potentially lethal blood poisoning rather than affecting the brain lining as meningitis does.
While it is possible to have both, the hospital has not confirmed whether Alfie had meningitis.
Meningococcal sepsis was recorded as the cause of death, a spokeswoman for the trust said.
His mother believes Alfie did not develop a rash until it was too late for a diagnosis to save him.
Although sepsis, which is a notoriously lethal condition in its own right, can cause similar symptoms to meningitis including a rash that does not fade under glass, the toddler’s sore neck could have been further indication he also had meningitis, Ms Southern believes.
Young Alfie Coxon was just two years old when he passed away
Ms Southern, who also has two daughters, said: ‘I had a meeting about the care Alfie had been given and although I can’t fault Warrington [hospital] at how fast and quick they were getting the help Alfie needed, I wanted to make sure they knew my feelings about Halton hospital, (only) to be told lessons will be learned.
‘So it’s taken my son to die for lessons to be learned.’
Mel Pickup, Warrington And Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, said: ‘We extend our sincere condolences to Alfie’s parents and family.
‘Alfie’s death is an absolute tragedy and our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Alfie’s family at this difficult time.
‘We are supporting Alfie’s family following Alfie’s death from meningococcal sepsis.
‘If the family wish to discuss anything further with us, their family liaison officer or paediatric consultant, we will support them.’