4-year-old tragically dies of sepsis after doctors repeatedly ignore parents' pleas to admit him

A couple lost their 4-year-old to sepsis after a hospital repeatedly sent them back home despite the parents' plea to conduct blood tests and admit the little one who had developed breathing issues. Lindita Alushi, 44, and Kastriot Klosi, 50, have now received an apology and compensation from the hospital. The little one was prescribed Calpol and Ibuprofen on two of the four visits. Investigators of the case found staff did not read his medical records on one visit. According to TheSun, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust has now agreed to pay the family an undisclosed out-of-court settlement and has apologised.

“We take some comfort from finally having an apology from the trust, but remain hurt at the length of time it has taken,” said Alushi.

Lindita, a pharmacy assistant and qualified doctor in her native Albania, said the day Daniel died their ‘family changed forever’.

"Our days are filled with distress, emptiness and sorrow. While time has moved on it has stood still for our family because of the many unanswered questions around what happened to Daniel," she said.

"Every day we wonder if more could have been done to save our little boy. We know that hearing everything again at the inquest will be incredibly difficult, but it’s something we need to do to honour our son and get the answers we’ve been seeking for more than a year," she had said in August last year.

How the tragic event unfolded

Daniel was first taken to the hospital on March 26, 2023 and but they were sent home just a few hours later. The parents again took their child to the hospital on March 30, as they were concerned about his breathing, but doctors apparently didn't think it could be anything serious and sent him home again, this time advising the parents to give Daniel Calpol and ibuprofen.

On April 1, the family was once again sent home but the parents returned with their child at 4pm where Daniel was finally admitted. He, however, soon died of sepsis – a life-threatening illness where the body attacks itself because of infection.

“We kept taking him to hospital and were really concerned about his condition but nothing can prepare you for being told your little boy has died,” said Alushi.

It was found by investigators that the hospital did not order blood tests or gave any intravenous antibiotics.

The hospital said: “We are deeply sorry that Daniel died while under our care.”