NHS trust prosecuted over children's sepsis deaths

An NHS trust is being prosecuted over the deaths of two children who had sepsis, the BBC has learned.

Two charges relate to Zadie Ajetunmobi, three, who died within hours of being taken to Broomfield Hospital, Essex, with a temperature of 40C (104F) in November 2022.

A third regards two-year-old Selina Samarina, who was sent home by a doctor at Broomfield in April 2024, only to die two days later.

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust (MSE), which runs the hospital, said it was "working closely" with investigators. It is due before Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in December.

Care and treatment was allegedly "not provided in a safe way" to the girls, court documents revealed.

The prosecution is being brought by the Care Quality Commission under the Health and Social Care Act.

Zadie died within 10 hours of being taken to Broomfield on 10 November 2022, having suffered a cardiac arrest.

A post-mortem examination showed her death arose from complications associated with sepsis, external.

She was not given a potentially life-saving dose of intravenous antibiotics for more than seven hours.

Selina Samarina was taken to Broomfield with symptoms of fever, a rash and irritability on 7 April 2024.

She was discharged by a doctor but died there two days later, after her parents readmitted her.

The sepsis protocol was triggered on Selina's initial arrival at hospital, however a coroner previously said a doctor of appropriate seniority was not available until two-and-a-half hours later.

Selina, who had Down's syndrome, was sent home by a "very junior doctor" in the meantime, assistant coroner Stephen Simblet KC said during an inquest into her death.

Adam Sewell-Jones, group chief executive of MSE, said: "We are working closely with the CQC on its investigation.

"As there is an ongoing legal process, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."

MSE is expected to enter pleas to the three charges on 3 December.