A five-month-old baby girl, Esta High, tragically died from meningitis at Leeds General Infirmary in November 2023. An inquest jury has concluded that her life may have been saved if doctors had tested her for the infection sooner, rather than attributing her symptoms to Covid-19.
Background
Esta was admitted to the emergency department with a high temperature and vomiting. Despite testing positive for coronavirus, the inquest revealed that vital opportunities to diagnose a bacterial infection were missed. Esta ultimately died from streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis.
Her parents, Lynsey Carr and Leon High, expressed their frustration during the inquest, stating that their concerns were ignored until it was too late. Carr recounted, "We were extremely worried" and emphasized that they kept asking for help, but felt that "staff were rude and don’t listen to our concerns."
Inquest Findings
On Tuesday, the jury, consisting of five women and six men, concluded:
“"Esta died of natural causes which was contributed to by neglect. Had Esta received required care, based on the balance of probabilities, it would have probably saved or prolonged her life."
Carr described the family's experience in the hospital as filled with missed opportunities, stating that they were placed in a side room at the hospital’s children’s assessment and treatment (CAT) unit. She believed that staff were more focused on isolating Esta due to the Covid risk rather than addressing her medical needs.
