Understand
Mother tells inquest her concerns were dismissed before five-month-old baby died in Leeds
Overview
At Wakefield Coroner's Court, the mother of five-month-old Esta High told an inquest jury that mistakes made by doctors at Leeds General Infirmary were unforgivable. Lynsey Carr stated that her growing concerns and her daughter's symptoms—including a high temperature, vomiting, a rash, and shaking—were repeatedly dismissed over a 15-hour period as being related to Covid-19, while missing high risks of sepsis and meningoencephalitis.
Key points
- Lynsey Carr told an inquest that doctors dismissed her concerns regarding her five-month-old daughter, Esta High, over a 15-hour period.
- Esta was taken to Leeds General Infirmary with a high temperature and vomiting on 31 October 2023 and later tested positive for Covid.
- The mother stated that staff were rude and failed to act on symptoms including a rash and shaking that she feared was a seizure.
- Carr argued that proper early treatment could have limited brain damage or saved her daughter's life.
- Scans later revealed evidence of meningoencephalitis and streptococcus pneumoniae before Esta passed away in intensive care.