Alarm at children dying from sepsis

A CORONER has demanded an NHS trust review its paediatric care after three children died of blood poisoning within six years.

- Lucy Johnston and Martyn Halle

In the latest tragedy, 11-month-old Jacob Owczarek died after Bassetlaw Hospital, in Nottinghamshire, failed to follow what his family lawyer called “basic medical care of a vulnerable child”.

After Jacob’s death, his mother Marta suffered a mental breakdown and has since disappeared.

Last month coroner Elizabeth Didcock issued a warning letter to Bassetlaw and Doncaster NHS Foundation Trust stating there had been “gross failure” to give Jacob basic medical care, adding that if the infant’s scans had been examined he “likely would not have died”.

She also expressed frustration at having to issue a third sepsis warning letter to the hospital and asked the Care Quality Commission to visit the trust to check on its use of sepsis guidelines.