Girl, eight, died of sepsis after being sent home to take ibuprofen and antibiotics – ‘because the hospital was too full’

An eight-year-old girl died of sepsis hours after being sent home twice by a GP who had advised her mother to give her fluids and ibuprofen because the hospital was reportedly overcrowded.

Mia Glynn was taken to the GP twice in four hours and despite showing symptoms of group A streptococcus, her parents were told to take her home.

At the second appointment, the young man was sent home with antibiotics after being told the hospital was full and that they would have to wait in the hallway.

Mia’s concerned parents Soron, 39, and Katie, 37, first took her to the doctor because she was vomiting constantly, had severe headaches and complained of a sore throat.

On the second visit she had not eaten well for three days, had an increased heart rate, decreased urine production and was drowsy.

Her concerned mother and father wondered if she had the group A streptococcal infection, which was common at the time.

Despite this, a doctor advised Katie to give Mia fluids and ibuprofen and not to take antibiotics until Mia went to bed.

The schoolgirl, still feeling unwell, slept in her parents’ bed that night, but woke early the next morning feeling agitated.

Mia was disoriented, had a rash on her arms and legs and blue lips, and complained of feeling hot but cold to the touch.

Soron and Katie, from Biddulph, Staffordshire, called an ambulance just after 3am on December 9, 2022. Paramedics rushed Mia to hospital, where she was given intravenous fluids and antibiotics.

However, she went into suspected septic shock and suffered cardiac arrest approximately 15 minutes after arriving at the hospital.

Doctors attempted to revive her, but she died about 20 minutes later. The cause of death was given as sepsis caused by a group A streptococcal infection.

After Mia’s death, Soron and Katie, who have a 12-year-old son Beau, instructed lawyers specialising in medical negligence to investigate her care and get answers.

The couple now speak for the first time with sorrowful eyes about the “devastating” loss of their “beautiful” daughter.

Katie, a self-employed hairdresser, said: ‘Our world and our hearts were shattered forever when our beautiful daughter was taken from us.

Mia had been to the doctor twice and was told her symptoms were viral. About 15 hours later she died of sepsis.

The incredible and unbearable pain we feel is inexplicable and unimaginable.

‘Our beautiful healthy girl was the happiest, brightest, most loving and caring little girl who laughed, danced and brought joy and love to everyone she met.

“She provided so much laughter and fun.”

MailOnline has asked the local council for comment.

Following Mia’s death, her family and supporters raised over £40,000 in her memory through fundraising events including sponsored runs and donations from local businesses.

The family have donated more than £16,000 to the charity UK Sepsis Trust.

Soron and Katie also founded the charity aiM – an anagram of Mia’s name – in memory of their daughter.

This year they hosted a summer family and music festival – aiM Festival. After the event raised over £21,000, the family plan to host the festival again next year.

Katie added: ‘We will never get over the pain of losing Mia, especially not the way it happened.

‘Our family will never be the same without Mia. She had her whole life ahead of her and was taken from us in the cruelest way imaginable.

‘The fact that she will never experience the milestones in her life, such as passing her exams, getting married and starting work, is something we will always cherish.

‘When we took Mia to the operating room, we wondered if she needed urgent treatment. Now we wonder if more could have been done to help Mia.

“Our hearts ache every second since Mia’s heart stopped. But we will always make sure that Mia will be remembered in the most special way.”

Soron, a technology teacher, added: ‘It was horrible to see Mia in her last moments.

‘We feel so blessed that she was our daughter, but we are also devastated that Mia was taken from us so early.

‘Many people have heard of sepsis, but it was only after what happened to Mia that we realised how dangerous it is.

‘We started doing research and reading more about it and it became clear to us that Mia was showing symptoms of sepsis, but we were not told to take her to the hospital.

‘It is a sad reality that there are families just like us who suffer loss due to sepsis. This has to change.

“We need to educate the public and healthcare professionals to recognise the symptoms of sepsis and ask the question, ‘could it be sepsis?’

Victoria Zinzan, the medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell who is representing the couple, said: ‘Mia was a much loved daughter and sister, whose death has had a devastating impact on her family.

‘It is understandable that her loved ones are still concerned about her death and the circumstances surrounding it.

‘Unfortunately, in our work we see too many families affected by sepsis, and Mia’s death underscores the dangers of this condition.

‘Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to beat sepsis, so it is vital that people know what signs to look for to recognise this incredibly dangerous and life-threatening condition.’