NHS hospital doctors missed chances to save life of ‘happy, healthy’ baby girl who died of meningitis, inquest jury finds

An inquest jury found that missed care at Leeds General Infirmary contributed to the death of five-month-old Esta High from meningitis in November 2023. It concluded that, on the balance of probabilities, required care would probably have saved or prolonged her life.

Esta was taken to hospital with a high temperature and vomiting and tested positive for Covid. Her parents said staff did not act on their concerns as her condition worsened; the trust’s lawyers acknowledged missed opportunities to diagnose the bacterial infection and give antibiotics. The jury found she died from natural causes contributed to by neglect.