Inquest finds infant died after 55-hour delay in meningitis treatment at Leeds hospital

Five-month-old Esta High arrived at Leeds General Infirmary’s emergency department in November 2023 suffering high fever, vomiting and a positive Covid test. Her parents, Lynsey Carr and Leon High, reported that staff focused on isolating her rather than addressing her worsening symptoms, including a rash and shaking arm. Over a period described as 15 hours in the children’s assessment and treatment unit, clinicians continued to treat her as a Covid case and did not order tests for bacterial infection.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust admitted during the inquest that opportunities to diagnose streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis and administer antibiotics were missed. By November 2, scans revealed meningoencephalitis, and despite intensive-care efforts, Esta died on November 6. An inquest jury found she died of natural causes contributed to by neglect, stating that different care could have saved or prolonged her life.