Girl dies from sepsis after GP sends her home twice

The parents of an eight-year-old girl say she died of sepsis after being sent home twice in the space of four hours by her GP.

Mia Glynn, from Biddulph, Staffordshire, had been vomiting for three days and complained of a sore throat and a severe headache.

Her GP prescribed her antibiotics and said the hospital was too busy to help her, but her parents, Soron and Katie Glynn, called 999 that same night when Mia’s lips turned blue.

She died in hospital, and the cause of death was sepsis caused by group A streptococcal infection.

Her parents, who spoke for the first time about the loss of their daughter, will now take legal action in 2022 in connection with the tragedy.

“The incredible and unbearable pain we feel is inexplicable and unimaginable,” Ms Glynn said.

“Our beautiful healthy baby girl was the happiest, brightest, most loving and caring girl who smiled, danced, brought joy and love to everyone she met.”

Mia began complaining of a sore throat on December 5, and her parents took her to the doctor three days later when she developed a fever and severe headache.

That same day, Mrs. Glynn took her daughter back to the doctor’s office because she was concerned about her condition. The doctor called the hospital for a second opinion.

The 37-year-old was advised to take Mia home because the hospital was full. She was sent home with antibiotics and advised to give Mia fluids and ibuprofen.

Mia’s parents called an ambulance on 9 December shortly after 03:00 GMT because Mia woke up with a rash on her arms and legs.

Mr Glynn, 39, said he panicked when Mia’s lips turned blue.

“I told the ER lady that Mia was going to be OK, but they said they were doing everything they could, and that’s when I knew,” he said.

“They started performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation shortly thereafter,” his wife added.

At the hospital, Mia was given intravenous fluids and antibiotics, but septic shock was suspected and she went into cardiac arrest.

Doctors tried to resuscitate her, but she died after about 20 minutes.

Ms Glynn, a freelance hairdresser, said: “We will never recover from losing Mia, especially in the way we did.”

“Our hearts have ached with every second since Mia’s heart stopped beating.

“But we will always make sure that Mia is remembered in the most special way.”

Mr Glynn, an engineering teacher, added: “The sight of Mia in her final moments was horrific.

“We feel so lucky she was our daughter, but are absolutely devastated that Mia was taken from us so early.”

The couple said they are now focused on raising awareness of the dangers of sepsis.

Charity events have raised more than £40,000 in her honour and her family have donated more than £16,000 to the UK Sepsis Trust.

Victoria Zinzan of Irwin Mitchell represents a couple in their medical negligence case.

“Mia was a beloved daughter and sister whose death had a devastating impact on her family,” she said.

“Understandably, her loved ones continue to have many concerns about her death and the circumstances surrounding it.

“Unfortunately, in our work we see too many families affected by sepsis; Mia’s death highlights the dangers of this disease.”