Inquest examines Essex hospital sepsis protocols after death of three-year-old 

Chelmsford Coroner’s Court investigates the sepsis treatment policies at Broomfield Hospital, Essex. 

The investigation follows the tragic death of three-year-old Zadie Ajetunmobi in November 2022.  

Zadie’s parents, Theo and Rhiannon Ajetunmobi, are represented by Kingsley Napley LLP at the inquest, which will be held under Article 2 of the Human Rights Act to explore potential systemic failures. 

Zadie died on 11 November 2022, four days after being diagnosed with tonsillitis by an out-of-hours GP at Broomfield Hospital. Despite her condition worsening, she was not given antibiotics until seven hours after arriving at A&E with a 40-degree fever. A post-mortem revealed complications from sepsis as the cause of death. 

In a report to the family, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust admitted that the hospital had failed to update its sepsis guidelines in line with National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance issued in 2017. The family believes that, had the sepsis tool been updated, Zadie would have been placed on the sepsis pathway and received life-saving antibiotics sooner. 

Ahead of the inquest, Zadie’s parents expressed their grief, stating: “We trusted Broomfield to help her in our hour of need, and instead, their failure to follow the latest advice on sepsis meant she was taken from us cruelly and too soon.” 

Andrea Wadden, the family’s solicitor from Kingsley Napley, added: “Prompt identification and treatment are crucial to prevent sepsis from becoming fatal. Zadie’s story will be painful for her family to relive, but they believe it’s vital that the facts are heard.” 

The inquest will focus on whether Broomfield Hospital’s failure to update its sepsis protocols contributed to Zadie’s death. 

 Image: Google Maps

Josie Miller Josie is an editor for Claims Media. She welcomes feedback, comments, and opinion at josie.miller@barkerbrooks.co.uk