Girl, 8, died from sepsis after being sent home twice by GP surgery

An eight-year-old girl died of sepsis hours after being sent home twice by a GP surgery.

Mia Glynn’s mum Katie, 37, initially took her daughter to the surgery after she began vomiting and complaining of a headache and sore throat.

A nurse practitioner said Mia’s symptoms were viral and advised Katie to give the youngster fluids and paracetamol.

By the time Katie took her back a second time some four hours later, Mia now had a raised heart rate, reduced urine output and was sleepy.

Katie, of Biddulph, Staffordshire, asked whether she had the infection Group A Strep, which was prevalent at the time.

But the doctor said the local hospital was full and prescribed Mia antibiotics. She also advised Katie not to start them until her daughter went to bed and to give her fluids and ibuprofen until then. 

The schoolgirl, who continued to feel poorly, slept in Katie and her dad, Soron’s bed that night but woke up in the early hours of the morning and was agitated and disorientated.

Mia also had rashes on her arms and legs and blue lips and complained she was hot but was cold to touch.

Katie and Soron, who also have a 12-year-old son, Beau, called an ambulance and paramedics rushed her to hospital where she was given intravenous fluids and antibiotics.

However, she went into suspected septic shock and suffered a cardiac arrest around 15 minutes after arriving.

Medics tried to resuscitate her but Mia died around 20 minutes later. Her cause of death was given as sepsis caused by Group A Strep infection.

Katie, a self-employed hairdresser, said: ‘Our world and hearts broke forever when our beautiful daughter was snatched away from us.

‘Mia had been taken to the doctors twice to be told her symptoms were viral. Around 15 hours later she died of sepsis.

‘The unbelievable and unbearable pain we feel is unexplainable and unimaginable.

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

‘She brought so much laughter and fun.’

Following their daughter’s death in December 2022, Soron and Katie have instructed expert medical negligence lawyers to investigate her care.

They, along with friends and well-wishers, have also raised more than £40,000 for charity in Mia’s memory through fundraising events, including sponsored runs and local business donations.

£16,000 of this has been donated to the charity UK Sepsis Trust.

Soron and Katie have also set up their own charitable organisation aiM – an anagram of Mia’s name – to raise awareness of sepsis and support other bereaved families.

This summer they organised a family and music festival called aiM Festival and raised more then £21,000. They hope to stage the event next year as well.

Soron, a 39-year-old engineering teacher, said: ‘A lot of people may have heard of sepsis but it’s only after what happened to Mia that we realise just how dangerous it is.

‘We started researching and reading more about it and it was clear to us that Mia had red flag symptoms of sepsis but we weren’t told to take her to hospital.

‘It’s the sad reality that there are families out there, like us, that are suffering from loss due to sepsis, this has to change.

‘We need to educate the public and health professionals to identify the signs of sepsis and ask the question ‘could it be sepsis?’.

Katie said they will never get over the pain of losing Mia.

She added: ‘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.

‘That she will never get to mark life’s milestones such as passing her exams, getting married and starting work is something that will live with us forever.’

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

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

‘Understandably her loved ones continue to have a number of concerns about her death and the circumstances surrounding it.

‘Sadly through our work we see too many families affected by sepsis; with Mia’s death vividly highlighting the dangers of the condition.

‘Early diagnosis and treatment is key to beating sepsis, therefore it’s vital people know what signs to look out for when it comes to detecting this incredibly dangerous and life-threatening condition.’

North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare has been contacted for comment.

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