Mother to sue over baby death

Leo Radcliffe: died of meningitis

A DERKER mum is pursuing legal action against health workers whose failings she believes contributed to the death of her baby son.

Katie Corry (22) and partner Kaine Radcliffe (25) spoke to two NHS Direct advisers and were told a doctor would visit when five-month-old Leo Radcliffe developed a fever and was struggling to breathe in 2010.

But doctor Jason Tahghighi — on call for private firm Go To Doc — didn’t call and Leo died in hospital hours later from meningitis.

Coroner Nigel Meadows ruled at the end of a two-week inquest in Manchester earlier this month that nothing could have been done to save Leo’s life — despite a series of failings by health workers.

But Mrs Corry has reacted angrily to the verdict. The mother of two, from Derker, said: “I’m bitterly disappointed with the ruling. I don’t understand how the coroner can hear so much evidence of failings and still come to the conclusion that Leo’s death could not have been prevented.

“I knew there had been some serious failings in Leo’s case but I had no idea just how bad it had been until this inquest. We were let down from start to finish. It’s shocking.. In my mind, Leo’s death was preventable.”

The inquest was told an unqualified NHS Direct call handler had failed to realise the seriousness of Leo’s condition.

Mrs Corry explained: “I found out at the inquest that because I’d described Leo’s breathing as rapid rather than severe, the call hadn’t been flagged as urgent. How can so much importance be put on one word?”

Mrs Corry has now instructed law firm Slater and Gordon to pursue legal action against those whose failings caused or contributed to Leo’s death.

“We’ve waited years for this hearing and I feel like I haven’t got justice for Leo and that’s why we’re launching a civil action,” said Mrs Corry.