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.
