Mum's advice anger after baby dies

NHS Direct handles health inquiries from the public

A grieving Tyneside mother has spoken of her anger after her three-month-old baby died in her arms from a rare condition.

Cheryl Brown contacted the government's NHS Direct telephone advice service three days before her daughter Tammy Leigh died, and was advised to give her feverish baby the medicine Calpol.

Tammy Leigh died in her sleeping mother's arms after a late-night feed on 15 January.

Police were called and Ms Brown, a mother-of-three, was kept away from her home in Newcastle, while an examination was carried out.

At first the 25-year-old blamed herself for smothering the child, but a post-mortem revealed the baby had died from suppurative pyelonephritis - a kidney infection caused by an abscess.

Ms Brown said: "I thought I had smothered her and the police got involved. I felt like a criminal.

"But once they had the post-mortem, the police were really lovely.

Experienced mother

"I invited the officers to the funeral and they came and brought flowers. They have been so nice."

She said only 11 people died from the condition last year, and all of them were over 30.

She criticised the advice she was given by Dr Mike Scott and said her family was considering legal action.

But the GP who gave the advice, said he would do the same again.

Dr Scott, of Newburn Surgery, Newcastle, said he went through a checklist with Ms Brown over the telephone on 12 January.

He said medical staff were particularly concerned not to miss meningitis cases and he had asked whether the baby had a rash, was taking liquid and if she was hot.

Dr Scott said he told Ms Brown, who he said he thought was an experienced mother and not "unduly concerned", to take the baby to see her GP the next day if the situation had not improved.

He said the illnesses which killed the baby may have come on after Ms Brown's telephone call to NHS Direct.

He added: "I can understand why the mum is terribly upset, but even with hindsight, I don't know if I could have done anything differently.

"It is a fairly standard checklist and there were no obvious warning signs."