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Neglect in hospital contributed to baby's meningitis death, jury rules

On Tuesday, a jury in Leeds concluded that five-month-old Esta Alina High "died of natural causes contributed to by neglect," determining that different care would probably have "saved or prolonged her life."
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust lawyers admitted during the inquest that staff missed opportunities to diagnose the bacterial meningitis infection, as doctors initially focused on a Covid-19 diagnosis rather than investigating the underlying cause.
Lynsey Carr told the jury the family spent "15 hours filled with missed opportunities" at the hospital unit, stating that because Esta was left untreated for 55 hours, "it was too late to save our darling girl."
Chief Medical Officer Elizabeth Garthwaite apologized on behalf of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, stating it "fully respects" the findings and is implementing Martha's Rule to "help ensure concerns raised by patients and families are heard and acted upon."
Assistant Coroner Naomi McLoughlin warned the jury to "put emotions aside" during the eight-day hearing, and the Coroner has issued a prevention of future deaths report that the trust committed to carefully considering and acting upon.

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