MUM TELLS OF DISTRESS AFTER MEDICS MISSED KILLER BUG Boy,6, died from sepsis after hospital and docs sent him home 4 times

A BOY of six died of sepsis after emergency medics sent him home four times and told his parents to give him Calpol.

Tragic Connor Horridge collapsed in a car park while he was walking to an appointment with a doctor.

His last words before he fell were: “Mummy, my legs.” He died in hospital two-and-a-half hours later.

Mum Joanne said: “Because of the circumstances of how he died, I will be distressed for the rest of my life. He loved school and wouldn’t take a day off even if he was poorly. It is a tragedy. He was my brave little boy. He was so sweet and loving and he would not want people sitting around and crying.”

An inquest at Bolton Coroners Court heard how Connor had been taken to an out-of-hours GP twice and to a hospital A&E twice after complaining of earache, a sore throat and sickness. A possible ear infection and gastroenteritis had been diagnosed previously and dad Thomas and Joanne were told to take him home and give him Calpol and fluids.

But a postmortem found the lad had contracted deadly blood poisoning Group A streptococcal septicaemia, causing sepsis, and his family believe his blood should have been tested.

Tragic

Consultant paediatrician Dr Martin Farrier admitted a senior doctor should have been called to examine Connor the second time he went to A&E.

But he said he did not believe it would have changed things as the acute septicaemia “couldn’t have been foreseen”.

He added: “It’s aggressive and people can die within 24 hours. There was no indication whatsoever. If we had of done a blood test I would expect they would not have shown signs of septicaemia. They do not predict the future.” Connor, from Platt Bridge, Wigan, died at the town’s Royal Albert Edward Infirmary on December 18 last year. Coroner Timothy Brennand gave a verdict of natural causes and levelled no criticism at any medic.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust has changed its policies on repeat admissions of kids, who will now be seen by more senior doctors.

Mr Brennand told Connor’s family that a “perfect storm” of circumstances had caused their son’s death.

He said: “This is a case where the decisions that were made were made in good faith in the presence of the presenting physiology. Connor was a bright, active and vivacious child. It was a life and brightness that has been shut down and closed at a tragic age.”