Boy had no sepsis days before death, says doctor

A three-year-old boy who died of sepsis did not have the condition two days before his death, an inquest has heard.
Dr Andy Robinson, a consultant paediatrician, told a jury at Exeter Coroner's Court that Theo Tuikubulau did not have sepsis when he assessed him on 6 and 7 July 2022 at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital.
The jury has been told that Theo, from Torpoint, Cornwall, was discharged from the hospital but readmitted on 8 July 2022 where he died and that sepsis was the cause of his death.
The inquest continues and is due to last most of the week.
'Cold-like symptoms'
Dr Robinson told the jury that his clinical view was that Theo did not have sepsis on 6 and 7 July.
"I don't think he had sepsis and I still stand by that," he said.
Theo's mother Kayleigh Kenneford told the jury how her son had cold-like symptoms and a snotty nose in the days before his death.
She then saw a rash on his chest, a high temperature and he was not taking on any fluids.
He was admitted to the emergency department, where they spent seven hours before Dr Robinson assessed him and said he thought Theo had an ear infection.
'Fobbed off'
Dr Robinson said his assessment was about half-an-hour long and said: "It was not a super busy night."
Theo was discharged just after midnight on the morning of 7 July and his mum claimed she was told her son would get worse before he gets better.
Dr Robinson said he recalled talking about Theo's temperature that might get worse.
But the toddler's condition did get worse and his mother rang the child assessment unit that night and was told to buy some sugary drinks for Theo, and she felt "she was being fobbed off".
Paramedics were later called as Theo's condition deteriorated and he was rushed to the same Plymouth hospital where he died as medics tried to save him.
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