Lila Marsland was just five years old when she died after being sent home from hospital
Lila Marsland(Image: Irwin Mitchell / SWNS)
The parents of a five-year-old girl who died from meningitis just hours after being sent home from A&E have been paid compensation by the hospital.
Lila Marsland was found unresponsive in bed by her mum on the morning of December 28, 2023. Around eight hours earlier, she was discharged from Tameside Hospital after being told she had suspected tonsillitis.
Lila had been sent home with antibiotics and a throat spray for tonsillitis, despite showing ‘strong signs of meningitis’ during her many hours in the hospital’s A&E.
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An inquest into the little girl’s death concluded Lila died from pneumococcal meningitis streptococcal pneumonia. A jury determined in June last year that her death was ‘contributed to by neglect’.
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Tameside Hospital, has since admitted failings in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of Lila’s bacterial meningitis.
Lila Marsland with her mum and sister Ava(Image: Submitted)
It accepted that those failings materially contributed to her death and the Trust has paid undisclosed compensation to the family.
Lila’s mum Rachael Mincherton said: “Losing Lila is something we’ll never come to terms with. She was the most amazing and adorable little girl. She was kind, caring and full of life. She loved dancing, cheerleading and spending time with family and friends. Everybody who met her adored her.
“Lila had her whole life ahead of her and it’s heartbreaking to think about everything she’s missed and all of the memories we’ve been denied as a family.
“Nothing will ever bring Lila back, but having answers regarding what happened to her is important to us.
“We’d urge parents to make themselves aware of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and to trust their instincts if they feel something isn’t right. However, medical staff also need to be aware of the dangers of meningitis and ensure patients receive the best care possible.
“It breaks our hearts to know Lila didn’t receive the care she should have and that, when she needed help most, she was badly let down.
“Parents should never be afraid to ask questions or seek help or a second opinion if they’re concerned.
Lila’s parents Darren and Rachael(Image: MEN Media)
“We miss Lila every single day and always will. However, if by speaking out we can help prevent what happened to Lila happening to someone else then her death may not have been totally in vain.”
Following legal submissions, the Trust admitted that Lila had meningitis by the time she was assessed on the Children’s Observation and Assessment Unit. It also admitted there was a failure to adequately assess her and a failure to diagnose and treat her bacterial meningitis.
The Trust further accepted that Lila should have remained in hospital and been started on intravenous antibiotics, and that failings in her care materially contributed to her death.
The settlement comes after the family have established Lila’s Light, a charity aimed at supporting siblings who have lost a brother or sister through bereavement support packs and other projects in Lila’s memory. So far the family and well-wishers have raised £33,000.
Jack Bookey, the expert medical negligence solicitor at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said: “Rachael, Darren and the rest of their family remain devastated by Lila’s death and continue to live with the consequences of losing her every day.
“While nothing can change what happened, the admissions made by the Trust provide important answers regarding the care Lila received in the hours before her death.
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“One of the most difficult things for the family is knowing that Rachael recognised her daughter was seriously unwell and did exactly what any parent would do by seeking medical help.
“By sharing Lila’s story, they hope greater awareness can be raised of meningitis and that lessons continue to be learned to help reduce the risk of other families experiencing a similar tragedy.”
Following Lila’s death the trust apologised and accepted there were failings. A spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News: “We’d like to reiterate our statement following the inquest.
“It is clear from the independent investigation that there were missed opportunities in Lila’s care. We accept the coroner’s findings and apologise unreservedly. As a trust we have made and will continue to make improvements to ensure we learn from this case.
“It is clear from the independent investigation that there were missed opportunities in Lila’s care. We accept the coroner’s findings and apologise unreservedly for this. As a Trust, we have made and will continue to make improvements to ensure we learn from this case.”
More information on Lila’s Light can be found on the group’s Facebook and Instagram pages.