Inquest Reveals Failures in Care for Chloe Longster

Chloe Longster, a 13-year-old girl, died from sepsis less than 19 hours after being admitted to Kettering General Hospital, where her symptoms were initially dismissed as those of a 'dramatic teenager'. Despite showing critical signs of deterioration and her mother's repeated pleas for assistance, hospital staff failed to conduct a sepsis screening or provide timely pain relief. Chloe was diagnosed with pneumonia upon admission but rapidly declined, ultimately suffering a cardiac arrest. Her mother expressed devastation over the preventable nature of her death, stating that Chloe had even asked if she would die, highlighting the neglect in her treatment. Following this incident, the Care Quality Commission found the hospital had 'ineffective systems' for addressing sepsis, resulting in a downgrade of its children's services. The inquest is ongoing, with the family seeking accountability for the perceived failures in Chloe's care.