My concerns for son were ignored by Stafford hospital, mother tells inquest
The mother of a disabled three-year-old boy who died at Stafford's County Hospital after attending a pre-booked appointment told an inquest that her concerns were repeatedly ignored in the hour leading up to his death.
Jonnie Meek, from Cannock, died on August 11 last year just three hours after arriving at the hospital in Stafford to trial a new milk formula, Cannock Coroner's Court heard. It was two days after his birthday.
The inquest heard how the youngster, who suffered from a genetic disorder, began choking and collapsed after his mother, April Keeling, had tried to alert staff. Hospital staff have denied any wrong-doing. A post-mortem found that the boy died of pneumonia.
Jonnie was born with De Grouchy syndrome – a rare congenital condition. He also suffered from developmental delay, chest infections and a number of health problems.
His parents, who live in Bevan Lee Road, Cannock, wanted the new feed to be trialled on the children's ward and their son was given the new milk formula at 1.30pm. Medical staff checked on the toddler at 2pm and 3pm and documented his condition as normal.
However, Miss Keeling told assistant coroner Margaret Jones that her son became irritable and restless just 15 minutes after the new feed started.
Miss Keeling asked if they should turn the machine off, but was told not unless he had vomited twice.
Miss Keeling said: "His hands were purple and he looked like a ghost. I was really worried, but was told he was purple because he had worked himself up. It disgusts me that nobody took any notice of me on that day. I knew that something was wrong."
At 3.30pm, Jonnie was checked again by medical staff and he was coughing. The feed continued and he was given extra suction to clear his secretions.
At 3.40pm a nurse placed Jonnie on high flow oxygen before calling for an emergency team. Despite CPR attempts, he was pronounced dead at 4.11pm.
Mr Peter Ellis, representing Miss Keeling and Jonnie's father John Meek, asked if the outcome could have been prevented and Dr Gupta, who treated Jonnie, said: "I don't think the secretions were enough to cause his death."
Victoria Blankstone, a medical negligence lawyer, said: "Jonnie's parents have understandably been left devastated by the unexpected loss of their young son."
The inquest was adjourned to sit again on January 23.
