Couple watch helplessly as baby son dies from chickenpox – after doctors ‘fail to spot deadly infection’
A COUPLE were forced to watch their baby boy die after chickenpox triggered killer sepsis.
Layton Boys-Hope was just a year old when he died.
His parents Nichol Boys and Dave Hope claim doctors failed to notice the warning signs of sepsis, dismissing his purple foot as being caused by a tight nappy.
The couple, both 38, watched helplessly as Layton slipped away, and died in February 2015.
Three years later they have agreed a damages settlement with City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, following a legal case - despite the hospital denying liability for his death.
Solicitors acting for the couple said the hospital did admit earlier treatment with antibiotics could have saved Layton's life.
And that it breached its duty of care by failing to carry out observations for six hours.
The trust said they expressed their "deepest condolences" to Layton's family and had placed a major focus on increasing sepsis awareness.
Dave, an optical lab technician, said: “All of us are total shadows of our former selves after losing Layton and it makes it even harder to accept or understand when you know he was let down.
“The hospital failed to carry out observations and there were delays in giving him antibiotics, which we have been told since would have saved him.
“Whatever we do and wherever we go, we’ll always be thinking ‘what if?’
"If things had been different, Layton would still be here and that’s the hardest part of it all.
“No parent should have to go through that and deal with that. We thought he was in the best place but, in my eyes, they didn’t do everything they should have done. We can’t ever accept that.”
Layton was breathless and had a fever, prompting his parents to take him to hospital in February 2015.
The couple said their son had been recovering well from chickenpox, when he suddenly took a turn for the worst at home.
By the time Layton was admitted, he had a high temperature and his left foot had turned purple.
Mum-of-six, Nichol said doctors first saw her son at 3.45pm.
Tests showed his liver was enlarged and doctors said there was a chance he had a bacterial infection.
"Despite this, no further observations were made to assess Layton's condition over the following six hours," she said.
FIND OUT MORE What is sepsis, what are the symptoms and signs of the infection and how do you get it?
"The doctors had noted the discolouration in Layton's foot but were not in agreement over its cause.
"It was dismissed as having been caused by either his nappy being too tight or having slept on his leg."
Layton's parents claim he was given Calpol to reduce his temperature while more tests were done.
Blood tests weren't assessed until three-and-a-half hours after he was taken into hospital, the couple added.
The results showed Layton had a low white blood cell count - a sign of infection.
Solicitors acting for the couple said these results should have led to immediate use of antibiotics to fight the infection.
Layton was admitted to a ward at 9pm, and given antibiotics at 11.25pm - more than eight hours after first being seen.
By this stage, Layton's oxygen levels had dropped and his heartbeat had almost slowed to a stop.
He was taken to theatre but died after 30 minutes of CPR failed to revive him.
During the legal case, an independent medical expert claimed had antibiotics been given at any time before 6.45pm - three-and-a-half hours after admission - Layton would have survived.
His cause of death was recorded as overwhelming sepsis caused by chickenpox.
Tasmin White, of Hudgell Solicitors, said: "This is a tragic case, and it is particularly upsetting and distressing as from a parenting point of view, Dave and Nichol did everything they could. They took him to hospital as soon as they felt his condition was worsening and worrying.
"For the hospital to then approach his care with such a lack of urgency and detail, failing to carry out observations for six hours and not taking more decisive action, was inexcusable.
"Layton’s very high temperature, rapid breathing and his discoloured leg were all red flag warnings that something adverse was happening and should have led to a decisive conclusion that an infection was present.
"There were certainly enough symptoms to warrant the early administration of antibiotics – treatment which it has accepted could have saved Layton’s life."
The family have been left heartbroken by the loss of their son but are determined to ensure it doesn't happen to other children.
THE SIGNS YOUR CHILD HAS SEPSIS
Septicaemia, also known as sepsis, is a rare but serious complication of an infection that can quickly lead to multiple organ failure and death.
The blood poisoning occurs when large amounts of bacteria enter the bloodstream.
Bacterial meningitis can lead to septicaemia.
Sepsis can also be caused by viral or fungal infections, although bacterial infections are by far the most common cause.
Symptoms in children under 5
- your child may look mottled, bluish or pale
- is very lethargic and difficult to wake
- feels abnormally cold to touch
- is breathing very fast or having difficulty breathing
- has a rash that does not fade when you press on it
- is fitting or convulsing
- has a high temperature
- refusing to eat or drink
- has not had a wee for over 12 hours
Symptoms in older children and adults
- a high temperature
- chills and shivering
- fast heartbeat
- fast breathing
- feeling dizzy or faint
- confusion and disorientation
- diarrhoea
- nausea and vomiting
- slurred speech
- severe muscle pain
- breathlessness
- not urinating for a day
- cold, clammy and pale skin
- loss of consciousness
If any of these symptoms develop you should seek medical advice straight away.
Dave said: "The doctors told us they were trying everything possible to save him and from that moment our world started falling apart.
"We were shouting ‘come on Layton, you can do it son’. They worked on him for about 30 minutes before they made the decision to stop and they asked us if we wanted to be there.
"When we go to the cemetery, the kids kiss his picture and we spend hours there. We will never forget him and when his baby brothers are old enough, we will tell them all about him. We don’t want others to suffer the same as us."
Ian Martin, Medical Director at City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, said: “On behalf of the Trust, I express our deepest condolences to Layton’s family for the tragic loss of their son and brother in 2015.
MORE ON SEPSIS
“Over the past three years, the NHS nationally and locally has placed a major focus on increasing awareness of sepsis to support healthcare professionals in recognising and treating symptoms of this 'silent killer'.
"Ensuring timely identification and treatment of sepsis is one of our key quality improvement priorities and we now have a dedicated Sepsis lead working with teams across the Trust to provide regular training and support for staff around spotting the signs and symptoms of potential sepsis cases early and acting quickly to provide prompt treatment.
"Sepsis is a serious complication of an infection and a leading cause of death across the UK. It is extremely difficult to recognise and diagnose and working together with the UK Sepsis Trust, the NHS is now making great strides to raise awareness amongst all staff groups to help potentially save more lives in future."
You can find out more about Layton's story at their
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