Medical negligence
Five-year-old’s death ‘contributed to by neglect’
The death of a five-year-old girl from meningitis was ‘contributed to by neglect’, an inquest has found.
Lila Marsland showed “strong signs of meningitis” when she was sent home from Tameside Hospital with antibiotics and a throat spray for tonsilitis.
Her mother had asked medics whether Lila had meningitis, having shown symptoms of headaches, a sore throat, a high heart rate, neck pain and limited neck movement, vomiting, lethargy, and she was unable to pass urine – often regarded as ‘classic signs’ of the deadly condition.
However, the family, from Hyde, were assured this was not the case.
Around eight hours after she was sent home, in December 2023, Lila was found unresponsive in bed.
The inquest into Lila’s death, at Stockport Coroner’s Court, found that her cause of death was pneumococcal meningitis streptococcal pneumonia, and the jury found it had been ‘contributed to by neglect’.
“Had Lila been admitted to hospital and given broad spectrum antibiotics within the first hour of being triaged, this would have prevented Lila’s death,” the jury concluded.
Law firm Slater and Gordon represents families nationally who have been impacted by poor care, and is a leading voice in the campaign around the need to raise standards within the NHS.
Ben Gent, interim head of clinical negligence at Slater and Gordon in Manchester, says: "This is an absolutely tragic case where Lila's preventable death again highlights the urgent need to drive up standards and ensure that families and patients are listened to.
“Yet another family has been left devastated beyond measure through neglectful care from the places they are entitled to feel they are being looked after, and Lila's death must be a catalyst for change."
