Understand
Inquest told of missed opportunities to save five-month-old baby Esta High who died from meningitis
Overview
A five-month-old girl named Esta High died from pneumococcal meningitis at Leeds General Infirmary on 2 November 2023. An inquest at Wakefield Coroner's Court was told that earlier administration of antibiotics could have saved her life, and that medical staff failed to look beyond a Covid diagnosis and repeatedly ignored her parents' concerns.
Key points
- Esta High died at Leeds General Infirmary on 2 November 2023 from a bacterial infection after being taken to the emergency department with a high temperature and vomiting.
- A paediatric consultant agreed there were missed opportunities that contributed to Esta's death and stated that earlier antibiotics would likely have changed the outcome.
- Esta's mother told the jury that staff focused on isolating her for Covid rather than listening to the family, leaving her untreated for 55 hours.
- The inquest jury is tasked with formally determining the cause of death, which is believed to be pneumococcal meningitis.