Latest news with #TamesideHospital
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Hospital neglect a factor in girl's meningitis death
The death of five-year-old girl who was sent home from hospital with suspected tonsillitis hours before dying from meningitis was contributed to by neglect, an inquest jury has Marsland was examined by various medics over several hours at Tameside Hospital in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, on 27 December despite displaying several warning signs of meningitis no one began the treatment which could have saved her life, Manchester South Coroner's Court mother Rachael Mincherton said lessons must be learned from her death. The trust which runs the hospital said it "accepts the findings and apologises unreservedly". Ms Mincherton, of Hyde, Greater Manchester, described her as "a lively and vibrant little girl" who was thriving at school and enjoying time with her friends. She took her to the hospital's A&E after finding her lethargic, with a headache and a worryingly fast heartbeat, the inquest mother, who was a nurse at the same hospital at the time, said she queried whether Lila could have jury heard her neck was so stiff and painful that various clinicians over several hours were unable to complete a standard test which would have pointed towards meningitis. Another test on her legs should have raised warning signs but failed to do so and medical staff thought she had tonsillitis, the court was nine hours after she had arrived, Lila was discharged from the observation ward and sent home with her over seven hours after that she was pronounced dead by paramedics after her mother woke to find her witness Dr Philip Chetcuti previously told the court had Lila been given intravenous antibiotics in the first three hours of her time there, she would probably have inquest heard Lila was never fully examined for a rash - only her chest and back - and the test on her neck was never fully carried out, partly because each person assumed that someone else had already done she went from clinician to clinician, her notes were recorded on different systems, some paper, some electronic and this meant vital information was not properly passed on, the inquest heard. 'Devastating loss' There was a fundamental misunderstanding early on, too, that she had been examined by a senior doctor in adult A&E, when in fact he had never seen her, the jury was told. He was relying on a nurse's examination when he had decided she was well enough to be transferred, and that her elevated heart rate was probably anxiety, the court was this misunderstanding led other clinicians to believe her case was not urgent and when she was sent home they believed she had jury returned a narrative conclusion, finding that Lila died of natural causes and the cause of death was meningitis. They also decided her death was contributed to by Christopher Morris said to Lila's family: "I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it must have been sitting through evidence and having to relive the events." He said he hoped it gave some answers to the events leading to her death and offered his coroner made several prevention of future death reports and recommendations to the trust. Missed opportunities Ms Mincherton said it was "vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety".Speaking outside court, she said: "Throughout this process we have faced a number of defences to the care Lila received."We got the outcome today that we believed we should have but hearing the word 'neglect' is something a parent should never have to hear."We are now left with the devastating loss of our daughter for the rest of our lives."Tameside General Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, released a statement offering their condolences to Lila's family. "It is clear from the independent investigation that there were missed opportunities in Lila's care. We accept the coroner's findings and apologise unreservedly," a statement read."As a trust we have made and will continue to make improvements to ensure we learn from this case." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Doctors dismissed my five-year-old's common symptom - hours later she was dead
One afternoon in December 2023, five year-old Lila Marsland began suffering a series of symptoms familiar with most parents. She complained of neck pain, a headache and had been vomiting. Her mother, Rachael Mincherton, from Hyde, took her to Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester, where a district nurse said the child had tonsillitis, offered a prescription for antibiotics and discharged her. But within 12 hours, 'adorable' Lila was dead. An eight-day inquest into her shock death is due to start at Manchester South Coroner's Court in Stockport, Greater Manchester, on Tuesday. An initial investigation indicated that Lila had signs of meningitis bacteria in fluid surrounding her brain. Ms Mincherton said she asked hospital staff if meningitis could be a cause of her daughter's symptoms, but was told it was tonsillitis. Meningitis is a deadly infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges), and is usually caused by a bacteria or virus. It can quickly turn deadly, as it triggers life-threatening sepsis—an extreme reaction to an infection. Meningitis can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults. It's estimated up to 1 in every 10 cases of bacterial meningitis is fatal. Speaking ahead of the inquest about the ordeal Ms Mincherton said: 'When we arrived home from hospital, I slept with Lila that night and when I woke she was unresponsive. 'The paramedics arrived in minutes and did everything they could, but it was too late. At that moment our family changed forever. 'Lila was the most amazing and adorable little girl. 'She was a gentle soul who had many friends and all the teachers at school thought the world of her. 'I'd pick Lila up and it would take half an hour to leave as she would be hugging all of the teachers. 'Lila played with her friends, loved dancing, cheerleading and Rainbows. 'She had a zest for life and her entire future ahead of her. It breaks our hearts that she'll never get to make the most of life and fulfil her potential.' Since Lila's death, Ms Mincherton and her partner Darren Marsland, 42, have set up a charity called ' Lila's Light '—where they raise money to provide hospitals with bereavement bags for siblings who have lost a brother or sister. They have raised over £10,000 so far, through a variety of fundraisers including a family fun day and charity football match. 'No family thinks they'll ever find themselves in this position,' said Ms Mincherton. 'It's almost impossible to put into words the feeling of loss our family faces every day and how Lila's death will remain with us forever. 'We wouldn't wish what we're having to go through on anyone.' The couple, who are also parents to 15-year-old daughter Ava, are hoping the inquest will provide them with the 'answers they deserve' and have also instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell. 'One of the hardest things to try and come to terms with is having so many unanswered questions about why Lila died,' said Ms Mincherton, a former nurse. 'We know the inquest and listening to the evidence is going to be incredibly difficult but it's something we need to do to establish answers for our girl.' The Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which run the hospital, have been contacted for a comment.
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Health
- The Sun
‘Adorable' girl, 5, found dead just hours after being discharged from hospital with tonsillitis
WHEN five-year-old Lila Marsland started complaining of neck pain, a headache and vomiting, mum Rachael Mincherton took her to hospital and questioned whether it could be meningitis. After being diagnosed with tonsillitis, "adorable" Lila was discharged - but just hours later was found dead. 4 4 Lila was taken to Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester, and Rachael, who was a nurse at the time, asked hospital staff if Lila could have meningitis - inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. But a district nurse said the primary school pupil actually had tonsillitis and she was given oral antibiotics and was discharged. But just hours later in December 2023, Rachael woke up at around 9am to find that Lila was unresponsive. Rachael, 36, speaking ahead of an inquest starting next week, said: "When we arrived home from hospital, I slept with Lila that night and when I woke she was unresponsive. "The paramedics arrived in minutes and did everything they could, but it was too late. "At that moment our family changed forever." Rachael, of Hyde, Greater Manchester, has also paid tribute to Lila, describing her as "the most amazing and adorable little girl" who had a "zest for life." She said: "Lila was the most amazing and adorable little girl. "She was a gentle soul who had many friends and all the teachers at school thought the world of her. "I'd pick Lila up and it would take half an hour to leave as she would be hugging all of the teachers. "Lila played with her friends, loved dancing, cheerleading and Rainbows. "She had a zest for life and her entire future ahead of her. "It breaks our hearts that she'll never get to make the most of life and fulfil her potential." Since Lila's death, Rachael and her partner Darren Marsland, 42, have set up a charity called "Lila's Light" - where they raise money to provide hospitals with bereavement bags for siblings who have lost a brother or sister. They have raised over £10,000 so far, through a variety of fundraisers including a family fun day and charity football match. Rachael said: "No family thinks they'll ever find themselves in this position. "It's almost impossible to put into words the feeling of loss our family faces every day and how Lila's death will remain with us forever. "We wouldn't wish what we're having to go through on anyone. "However, fundraising is our way of trying keeping Lila's memory alive while also giving something back and help other families who may need support." An eight-day inquest into Lila's death is due to start at Manchester South Coroner's Court in Stockport, Greater Manchester, on Tuesday (May 27). An initial investigation into the youngster's death indicated that Lila had signs of meningitis bacteria in fluid surrounding her brain. Rachael and Darren, who also have a 15-year-old daughter Ava, are hoping the inquest will provide them with the "answers they deserve" and they have also instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell. 4 4 Rachael said: "One of the hardest things to try and come to terms with is having so many unanswered questions about why Lila died. "We know the inquest and listening to the evidence is going to be incredibly difficult but it's something we need to do to establish answers for our girl." Jack Bookey, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family said: "Rachael and Darren remain devastated at losing their little girl so suddenly and tragically. "Understandably they have a number of questions and concerns over what happened to Lila and the events leading up to her death. "While nothing can make up for their devastating loss, the inquest is a major milestone in being able to provide Lila's loved ones with the answers they deserve. "If during the course of the inquest any issues in Lila's care are identified, it's vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety." The Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which run the hospital, have been contacted for a comment.
