Couple to sue NHS over death of baby son

A COUPLE are taking legal action over a catalogue of alleged medical errors they say killed their three-day-old son.

Dave Mears and Emma Collins were allowed to take Logan home less than a day after his birth despite concerns about his breathing. Logan, who his parents say was visited by a community midwife the day before his death, died of an infection which caused his kidneys to shut down and led to the onset of septicaemia.

He had caught the infection from his mother, who felt ill before and after the birth at Pontefract General Infirmary, in July. His parents claim medics failed to recognise seriousness of her condition, with one doctor at Oulton Medical Centre allegedly telling Emma, 19, from Leeds, she had back muscle strain.

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Mother and son later went to Wakefield's Pinderfields Hospital where staff realised Emma was sick when they saw her on the night Logan died. Tests revealed she was suffering from severe pneumonia and septicaemia. She spent 33 days in intensive care.

A Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust spokeswoman said: "We believe our community midwife acted appropriately." Tracey McErlain-Burns, of Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Because Ms Collins was admitted to intensive care (at Pinderfields), we carried out a review of her and her baby's care whilst at Pontefract." She would be happy to give the findings to the couple.

NHS Leeds said an investigation had been launched. Oulton Medical Centre said staff were working with NHS Leeds to understand the care given.

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