Neglect contributed to baby girl's meningitis death after Leeds doctors blamed her symptoms on Covid, inquest jury finds

Lynsey Carr and Leon High defied medical advice to take five-month-old Esta High home from Leeds General Infirmary in late 2023. The infant was vomiting persistently, had a temperature above 40C, broke out in a rash, and her arm began to shake. Ms Carr told Wakefield Coroner's Court that staff were 'rude' and dismissed their concerns. Esta died days later of streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis.

Lawyers for Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust acknowledged that opportunities to diagnose and treat her had been missed.

Ms Carr described Esta's CAT unit stay as '15 hours that were filled with missed opportunities'.

The jury concluded that adequate care 'would have probably saved or prolonged her life'.