Boy, 6, dies of sepsis after doctors tell parents: Just keep giving him Calpol
How was my swim? I had a whale of a time!
A BOY of six died from sepsis after doctors repeatedly sent him home and told his parents to give him Calpol, an inquest heard.
Over the course of a week Connor Horridge was twice discharged by his GP and twice from hospital before he was taken to hospital for a third time and died.
His parents Joanne and Thomas believe their ‘bright and bubbly’ son could have been saved had he been given more thorough tests. But a coroner said doctors did all they could.
When Connor, of Wigan, first became ill with earache and sickness his parents gave him Calpol, a children’s medicine containing paracetamol, and fluids.
They took him to their GP after his symptoms worsened but were told it would ‘probably’ be a viral infection. They said they were advised to keep giving him Calpol and fluids.
Mr and Mrs Horridge brought him back to the doctor four days later after he failed to improve but were given the same advice.
In less than 24 hours, however, his temperature had become ‘dangerously’ high.
The Horridges called an ambulance to take him to the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan but he was discharged. An inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court heard that they were again advised to continue giving Connor Calpol. As his temperature reached 40C (104F) and he was sick his parents took him back to hospital only for him to be discharged again.
The following day, on December 18 last year, Connor was taken back to hospital by ambulance after collapsing and shouting ‘mummy, my legs’. Mr Horridge said: ‘I just remember hearing ‘‘code red, possible sepsis’’ and they rushed him to the hospital. He passed away that evening.’
Sepsis occurs when an infection triggers a violent response from the immune system and the body’s organs shut down. There are 150,000 cases in the UK a year and 44,000 deaths. The Mail has run a major End The Sepsis Scandal campaign to raise awareness of the devastating illness.
Mr and Mrs Horridge claim that it was only after Connor’s death that the hospital took a blood test and saw that his white blood cells had gone ‘through the roof’.
Consultant paediatrician Martin Farrier told the inquest there were ‘accepted missed opportunities’ and a senior doctor should have examined Connor the second time he was presented. But he said that by the time Connor was diagnosed with sepsis it was too late.
He said: ‘ I do not believe that the other doctors or nurses could have done anything more as there was nothing to examine at the time (of Connor’s earlier admissions), apart from the viral infection.’
Pathologist Dr Melanie Newbold said sepsis took over rapidly.
Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, Coroner Timothy Brennand told Connor’s parents: ‘Connor was a bright, energetic little boy. I can only hope you have got some peace knowing the doctors did everything they could.’