Staff 'ignored' sepsis concerns in Goole toddler Jack Sands's death

Jack Sands died at Leeds General Infirmary in July 2018, just a few days before his second birthday

The family of a toddler who died in hospital were ignored by medical staff when they raised concerns he had sepsis, an inquest heard.

Jack Sands died on 17 July 2018, days before his second birthday, after an operation at Leeds General Infirmary.

Wakefield Coroner's Court heard surgery on his skull went well and he was due to be discharged but then fell ill.

Recording a narrative verdict, Senior Coroner Kevin McLoughlin said it was "unclear" how the infection started.

The 23-month-old developed diarrhoea and sickness after the surgery on 12 July and was diagnosed with gastroenteritis, the coroner said in his written judgement.

Four days later he was transferred to a high-dependency unit when he "became increasingly unwell" and suffered a cardiac arrest.

Jack went into hospital to correct a "malformation of the bones forming in his skull", the coroner wrote

His mother Gemma Sands, from Goole, East Yorkshire, said his skin had become pale and mottled.

"My dad was telling the nurses about this but nobody listened," she said.

The inquest heard Jack's family searched online for the symptoms of sepsis and raised their concerns with medical staff, but were told "we're the professionals, we know what we're doing".

Mr McLoughlin said: "The administration of antibiotics was delayed for some hours that evening after a diagnosis of sepsis was considered, although it is unclear whether this made more than a minimal contribution to the outcome."

A post-mortem examination showed "an overwhelming bacterial infection" on the brain around where he had the operation.

"The origin of the infection and the mechanism by which it developed, are unclear," the coroner concluded.

Paul Chumas, the brain surgeon in charge of Jack's case, told the inquest: "I hope one of the lessons learned is that we should listen to parents because they are the specialists in the care of their children."

Senior sister Julie Cooper said following Jack's death, staff on her ward had now been trained to spot the signs of sepsis.