Family accuse doctors of 'failing' their baby son after inquest told he died of undiagnosed heart condition despite 10 hospital visits
The family of a toddler who died of a rare heart condition have claimed that their son was 'failed' by doctors who did not properly diagnose him.
'Happy' Archie Squire, born on November 20, 2022, was labelled a 'mystery child' by doctors - in reference to his illness - despite making more than 10 visits to A&E in his short life.
Presenting symptoms that included constipation, breathlessness and 'failure to thrive', Archie was eventually admitted to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital in Margate, Kent, in November 2023.
After suffering two cardiac arrests, he died just two days later.
Now, his devastated parents, Lauren Parrish and Jake Squire, have alleged that doctors failed to diagnose his rare heart condition in the lead up to his death, just three days after his first birthday.
Following the tragic loss of their son, the couple say that they have endured an 'incredibly painful' journey, made worse by having to wait for answers.
At an inquest looking into the circumstances surrounding the young child's death at Oakwood House in Maidstone, Kent on May 19, Archie's emotional family said that words 'can't describe' their experience of watching their son die under such tragic circumstances.
They told the hearing they believe there were acute 'failures' in his care, particularly given an inability to diagnose what exactly was wrong with him in the months leading up to his death.
The family also alleged that Archie's parents only received 'vague answers' from doctors who failed to diagnose a precise medical issue with their young son.
Archie's heartbroken mother, Ms Parrish, explained that her son had struggled with symptoms including constipation, breathlessness, vomiting and 'failure to thrive' - relating to him not gaining weight or growing as expected - throughout his short life.
She first took her son to A&E in November 2022, shortly after his birth, when 'grunting' noises he made in his sleep worsened.
Though he went on to visit A&E nine more times - being seen by several doctors, GPs and nurses - Ms Parrish said medical professionals described Archie as a 'mystery child' as they were unable to discern what exactly was wrong with him.
Shortly after his ninth visit to A&E, the young toddler was again diagnosed with a lower respiratory tract infection by GPs. Archie's mother has now told the inquiry that she believed 'no further investigation' was ever undertaken by medical professionals.
On the final hospital visit, a day after Archie's first birthday, and having been 'back and forth' for medical assistance 'so many times', Ms Parrish said that she eventually decided that 'enough was enough'.
Archie was then fitted with a nasogastric (NG) tube going into his stomach, which the family believe was a 'main contributing factor' to him going into cardiac arrest, the inquest was told.
X-rays were undertaken to check if the tube was in the correct place, and Ms Parrish said that her son's condition rapidly deteriorated following the administration of drugs via the tube on two occasions.
On the moments Archie fell into cardiac arrest and resuscitation was attempted, Ms Parrish added: 'It seemed like a lot of what was needed was not available to [medical staff].'
Eventually, having been told that young Archie would be severely brain-damaged with a poor quality of life if he was resuscitated, Ms Parrish and Mr Squire agreed to stop CPR.
A post-mortem revealed that the toddler had suffered heart failure caused by isolated cardiac ventricular inversion, where the left atrium enters the right ventricle and vice-versa.
In a heartbreaking statement released by Archie's family, they said that they believed there had been 'failures to recognise a poorly child not just in the hours leading up to Archie's death, but also in the months before'.
Adding that they felt 'lessons are not being learned' and that there was still a lack of 'compassion' for the family's devastating ordeal, the statement read: 'Concerns were raised on many occasions about Archie's breathing.
'We believe there have been missed opportunities to prevent his death. We feel it is our duty to raise these in the form of a complaint, in the hope that no other child dies unnecessarily.
'Archie's parents raised health concerns relating to his breathing. They were often left with vague answers and little treatment which never led to long-term recovery.
'Why weren't parents' concerns listened to on numerous occasions? If he was poorly, why wasn't this recognised?'
Archie's parents, Lauren Parrish and Jake Squire (pictured with Archie) , have told an inquest in Maidstone, Kent that they believe there were 'failures to recognise a poorly child not just in the hours leading up to Archie's death, but also in the months before'
A statement from Archie's godmother, Nikki Escudier, described the young child him as a 'shining light' that brought 'happiness into the world from the beginning'.
Ms Escudier added: 'In just 368 precious days, he filled every moment with warmth, laughter, and the kind of love that stays with you forever.
'His smile lit up the room and his presence left a lasting mark on every heart he touched.
'Though his time with us was heartbreakingly short, he continues to live on.
'Archie was more than a baby. He was a gift, a gentle soul. He brought people together. His sweet nature made him unforgettable.
'Everyone who met Archie felt his charm. He will never get to grow up alongside his brother and we will never get to see the man he would've become.
'Archie Squire made this world brighter simply by being here. And though he is gone, he will always be with us - deeply loved and forever remembered.'
During the inquest, Archie's parents are being represented by medical negligence solicitor Lily Hedgman, alongside Leigh Day and barrister Emily Raynor.
Ms Hedgman said: 'Archie died just days after his first birthday. His family have shown incredible strength, dignity and resilience throughout this process, motivated by an unwavering determination to ensure that no other family has to endure a similar loss.
'They hope that this inquest will provide a full and transparent account of Archie's care and reveal whether any opportunities to diagnose his heart condition, and therefore avoid his death, were missed.'
A spokesperson for East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust said: 'We offer our heartfelt condolences to Archie's family and we will work with the coroner to give the family answers.'
The inquest, expected to last around eight days, continues.
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