Newborn baby dies of sepsis after being sent home from hospital by ‘patronising’ doctor

'A mother’s intuition is key'

Felicity's parents are sharing their heartbreaking story so no other parents go through the same ordeal

A couple have spoken out about the importance of a mother’s intuition after they woke to find their eight-week old baby dead from sepsis just hours after being sent home from hospital.

Upon noticing that their daughter, Felicity, had a temperature, wasn’t feeding and becoming more and more difficult to rouse, Emma and Lee George quickly rushed their baby to a hospital urgent care centre.

But, when they arrived Mrs George says the ‘patronising’ doctors simply took her temperature before sending them home, adding, “You look like a sensible mother, if she gets any worse bring her back tomorrow.”

Within a matter of hours, the couple work to find that their daughter had stopped breathing. Despite calling an ambulance, which took her to Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley, Felicity passed away.

Felicity's parents are sharing their heartbreaking story so no other parents go through the same ordeal (Just Giving)

A post-mortem examination revealed the infant had died of sepsis, caused by pneumonia.

“A mother’s intuition is key – the doctor is not always right. People need to trust their instincts,” Mrs George told the Daily Mail.

“I knew there was something wrong with Fliss but the doctor was horrible. He looked at her and took her temperature but did no other checks.

“I have never felt so lost and broken in my life.”

Despite calling an ambulance, which took her to Russells Hall Hospital, sadly Felicity passed away

The couple, who believe that their daughter could have been saved if more thorough checks were carried out, have decided to share their heartbreaking story so that “no other parents go through the same ordeal” and have lodged a complaint with Dudley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

With the hopes of making Felicity a “proud big sister” Mr and Mrs George hope to try for another baby but following a vasectomy Mr George had when his wife was five-months pregnant, this might not be possible.

Despite applying to have the vasectomy reversed, the NHS has declined their claim so they have now started a Just Giving page to raise the £3,500 needed for the operation.

An illness that affects 150,000 people in the UK, the NHS suggest you go straight to A&E or call 99 if your child under the age of five has any of the following symptoms; bluish or pale skin, difficult to wake, feels abnormally cold to touch, is breathing very fast, has a rash that doesn’t fade when pressed, has a fit.

Other signs include a temperature over 38c in babies under three months, over 39c in babies aged three to six months, no interest in feeding, not had a wet nappy for 12 hours, a stiff neck and weak, continuous crying.

A spokesman Dudley Clinical Commissioning Trust offered condolences to Mrs George and her family, and said that as the complaints raised are being investigated it would not be appropriate to comment further.