12.09.2024 Sheffield Mum’s Sepsis Warning After Four Month Old Baby Dies Two Days After Hospital Trust Failed ...

12.09.2024

Woman Call For Lessons To Be Learned After Asking Medical Negligence Lawyers To Investigate Daughter's Care

A grieving mum whose baby died after health bosses failed to fully outline the risks of bowel surgery is calling for lessons to be learned.

Four-month-old Kyra Ali Aslam underwent surgery at Sheffield Children's Hospital to reverse a stoma she had fitted shortly after birth.

After the operation her bowel started leaking. Kyra's condition deteriorated and she died two days later from sepsis - which sees the body attack itself in response to an infection.

Kyra's mum asks medical negligence lawyers to secure answers

Following her death, Kyra's mum Lariece Greaves, aged 28, of Sheffield, instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate and help secure answers.

At the conclusion of an inquest, coroner Abigail Combes issued a prevention of future deaths report. She called on the hospital to outline what measures it would take to improve care.

The coroner's report said Lariece was told the stoma reversal would be "much more straightforward" than the operation to create it. When she raised concerns about her daughter's condition post-surgery "insufficient weight was placed" on her fears, it added.

Following subsequent legal submissions by Irwin Mitchell, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, admitted it failed to adequately obtain consent for Kyra's stoma reversal and outline there was a 1-2 per cent risk of a leaking bowel occurring.

The surgical team also failed to review Kyra on the night before her death despite her having a "consistently high" paediatric early warning score - a system that helps to identify children at increased risk of deterioration, the Trust admitted. The team failed to recognise Kyra had features of sepsis, the Trust acknowledged.

However, the Hospital Trust denied liability for Kyra's death.

Lariece and legal team issue sepsis warning

Lariece, a full-time mum to her two sons, has now spoken for the first time about her "unbearable" loss. She has joined her legal team at Irwin Mitchell in supporting World Sepsis Day and raising awareness of the signs of the life-threatening condition.

Sinead Rollinson-Hayes is the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Lariece.

Expert Opinion

"This is truly tragic case which has left Kyra's family heartbroken.

"Understandably Lariece has had a number of concerns about the care her daughter received and the events that unfolded in the lead up to her death.

"Through our work we often see the devastating consequences that families can be left to face when a loved one has passed away. Sadly, the inquest heard worrying evidence regarding Kyra's care and a lack of recognition regarding how serious her condition was.

"While nothing can make up for Kyra's death, we're pleased that we've at least been able to provide her family with the answers they deserve.

"Kyra's death is a stark reminder of the dangers of sepsis and how early detection, and treatment are key to beating it. It's now vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety." Sinead Rollinson-Hayes

Sepsis: Sheffield girl Kyra Ali Aslam's story

Kyra underwent surgery on 11 August, 2022. Lariece raised concerns that Kyra was not behaving as she did previously after undergoing surgery. However, medics said it was "normal" behaviour linked to anaesthetic and surgery, the inquest report said.

The following day Kyra started vomiting. Nursing staff, who feared Kyra may have sepsis, raised "significant concerns" with medical staff, the coroner's report said. However, medical staff said a leaking bowel would be a rare complication and believed her bowel wasn't working properly after surgery.

Kyra died on 13 August.

In her report dated December 2023, the coroner ruled "that insufficient weight was placed on the nursing concerns about Kyra".

However, in legal correspondence the Trust denied this was a breach of duty. It was also denied that not discussing a possible transfer to the high dependency unit the day before Kyra's death and failing to suspect a leaking bowel and carry out exploratory surgery the night before she died were breaches of duty.

Irwin Mitchell and the Trust continue to be in legal discussions about the case.

Lariece pays tribute to beautiful daughter as she back awareness campaign

Lariece said: "Kyra's nickname was Dolly Bleu because she had the most beautiful blue eyes, just like her grandparents. She was such a happy and content baby despite everything that happened to her after she was born.

"She was developing brilliantly and was meeting all of her developmental milestones. She was such a smiley baby. She didn't cry often and was very content. Her brothers loved interacting with her, which easily made her smile.

"It's almost impossible to find the words to describe the hurt we feel over Kyra's death. The hurt we feel and the hole her death has left in our family is unbearable.

"It's difficult not to think how Kyra would be developing and causing mischief with her older brothers.

"We'd do anything to have Kyra back in our lives but know that's not possible. I just hope that by speaking out people realise how dangerous sepsis can be and that improvements in care are made. I wouldn't wish what our family are going through on anyone."

In response to the coroner's report, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust said it had introduced a number of measures including enabling parents to escalate concerns about their child's care. Other measures included funding for additional staff, including a quality matron and sepsis lead nurse as well as setting up a monthly Safety, Quality, Risk and Learning Committee.

Signs of sepsis and support available

The charity UK Sepsis Trust says the signs of sepsis include slurred speech, confusion, extreme shivering and muscle pain, passing no urine in a day, severe breathlessness, raised temperature, high heart rate and mottled or discoloured skin.

Find out more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in supporting families affected by sepsis at our dedicated sepsis claims section. Alternatively, to speak to an expert contact us or call 0370 1500 100.

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