Parents of five-year-old who died after hospital did not spot meningitis 'yet to receive apology'

ITV Granada Reports correspondent Rob Smith spoke to Lila's parents following her inquest

The parents of a five-year-old girl who died after medics failed to spot her meningitis say they are still waiting for a personal apology from the hospital.

Lila Marsland died in her sleep just hours after being sent home from Tameside Hospital in December 2023.

Medics had treated her for tonsillitis - giving her antibiotics and a throat spray - despite the fact she showed "strong signs of meningitis" as she waited in A&E.

Following her death an inquest found the hospital's neglect contributed to her death - stating had she been "given broad spectrum antibiotics within the first hour of being triaged" it would have prevented it.

But, despite the hospital trust apologising to the media for its actions, Lila's family, from Hyde, Greater Manchester, say they are still waiting for a direct acknowledgement.

Lila's parents say they only heard of the apology after watching coverage of their daughter's inquest on the television.

"After the inquest we turned the TV on to watch it and that's when we saw they apologised unreservedly," Rachel Mincherton, Lila's mum said.

"But we've yet to receive an apology."

"It makes us feel angry, really angry," she added. "You know she's lost her full life and we've had no sincere apology about it at all.

"We need to know this is not going to happen again. I think you get to feel like you get your answers and it would help. But it doesn't, it makes your grief worse."

Lila, described by her mum as a “gentle soul”, was found unresponsive in bed on the morning of 28 December 2023, two weeks before her sixth birthday.

She had been taken to A&E the night before by her mum, Rachael Mincherton, who was an adult nurse at the same hospital, after suffering headaches, vomiting, a sore throat, neck pain, and lethargy.

During an eight-day inquest at Stockport Coroners’ Court, jurors heard that Lila spent nine hours in the hospital, and displayed classic signs of meningitis, including a high heart rate, neck stiffness, and an inability to pass urine.

Despite this, she was diagnosed with tonsillitis and sent home with antibiotics and a throat spray at 2am.

After arriving home, Rachael and Lila went to bed together. Lila woke again around 4am with a headache. By 9am, Rachael found her daughter unresponsive, paramedics arrived but Lila died at 9.19am.

An inquest jury, sitting at Stockport Coroners’ Court, concluded on 5 June, that had Lila been admitted and given broad-spectrum antibiotics within an hour of triage, her death from pneumococcal meningitis streptococcal pneumonia would have been preventable.

Rachael described the findings as 'devastating', adding: "To sit in that inquest and hear how appalling her care was, I was shocked.

"There's all the 'what-ifs'. What if we'd taken her to another hospital? There's all sorts."

Coroner Chris Morris penned two 'prevention of future deaths' reports, which will be sent to relevant authorities.

The reports highlighted several concerns, including the use of 'labyrinth systems' which risked 'information not following a patient through the system'.

He wrote to the hospital trust expressing concerns about its lack of adherence to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on meningitis, and missing notes from Lila's case.

He also raised issues regarding the testimony provided by a senior doctor. The trust has issued an apology and acknowledged failings. A spokesperson told the MEN: "We'd like to reiterate our statement following the inquest."

Responding to the family's allegations Tameside Hospital said it repeated its previous statement.

A Trust spokesperson said: “We'd like to reiterate our statement following the inquest. It is clear from the independent investigation that there were missed opportunities in Lila's care.

"We accept the coroner's findings and apologise unreservedly.

"As a trust we have made and will continue to make improvements to ensure we learn from this case. "Unfortunately, we are unable to comment further at this time as this is still an ongoing process.”

The family are now focused on helping siblings through the grieving process.

They create what they call bereavement bags, filled with comforting keepsakes and help books for children who have lost a brother or sister.

Their charity Lila’s Light has spent months raising money to give them out.

"It's good we do fundraisers, football events and charity auctions mountain walking," Darren said.

"It's continuing Lila's legacy as well you know, I think when you lose a child you always want to keep talking about her, so to carry on doing something for her, keeps her name alive."

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