A 13-year-old girl in “excruciating” pain inquired of her mother whether she would succumb before succumbing to sepsis, an inquest has revealed.
Chloe Longster was swiftly taken to the emergency department of Kettering General Hospital in Northamptonshire on 28 November 2022 after awakening with rib discomfort and cold-like symptoms.
She was admitted that evening to the Skylark pediatric ward, before later being moved to intensive care, where she underwent intubation.
Tragically, Chloe passed away the following morning.
An inquest into her demise commenced at Northampton Coroner’s Court on Monday, where Chloe’s mother, Louise Longster, informed assistant coroner Sophie Lomas that her daughter’s pain management was “not timely”.
Her parents asserted that the teenager’s passing was “entirely avoidable” and stated that the family had been left “heartbroken” by the event.
Mrs. Longster recounted during the inquest that her daughter was “grimacing and writhing” in agony while hospitalized.
She stated: “Chloe pleaded to be allowed to sleep because the suffering was unbearable. I distinctly remember how pale and clammy she appeared.
“It is agonizing to witness your own child endure such distress.
“She was constantly checking the time—aware of when her paracetamol and ibuprofen were due, which was consistently delayed.
“It felt as though we were merely attempting to catch up with her pain instead of effectively managing it.
“Chloe asked me on Skylark if she would die. It is chilling that the 13-year-old turned out to be correct. It’s heart-wrenching.”
Louise Longster, the mother of 13-year-old Chloe Longster. Pic: PA
It was only after Chloe was relocated to a side room and diagnosed with influenza A that her condition was “acknowledged and taken seriously”, Mrs. Longster elaborated.
An A&E consultant, Dr. Marwan Gamaleldin, assessed Chloe three or four times prior to her transfer to the pediatric ward.
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He asserted that he believed she was suffering from a chest infection at the time and that “pain was the predominant issue”.
“She received four doses of pain relief utilizing three different medications; I understand that may not have been sufficient, but it was four doses of pain relief,” he stated.
Dr. Gamaleldin added that during the two-hour observation period, he “did not believe” that Chloe was experiencing sepsis as she did not exhibit either of the necessary markers used to diagnose the condition – a high white blood cell count or fever.
At least one additional staff member also contributed to the inquest.
The inquest is ongoing.
