Inquiry hears of bid to save Kyle

Kyle Brown died in April 2006

A fatal accident inquiry has been given harrowing details of the 35-hour fight by hospital staff to save an Edinburgh toddler who later died from meningitis.

Kyle Brown, who was 20 months old, died at Edinburgh's Royal Hospital for Sick Children in April 2006.

He was initially taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh's out-of-hours centre by taxi after his case was given the wrong priority.

The inquiry is taking place at Edinburgh Sheriff Court.

It is expected to last more than a week.

You will understand that our thoughts and sympathies are very much with the family at this very difficult time NHS24 statement

Julie Freeman, a consultant anaesthetist at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, said they did not know if the outcome would have been different had Kyle gone straight to her hospital by ambulance.

GP George Craig, who had been on an out-of-hours shift at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, described Kyle as "extremely serious, very ill".

A team leader at the medical helpline NHS24 told the inquiry on Tuesday that he had wrongly allocated Kyle's case as a Priority Two, rather than a Priority One.

He thought this had been as a result of a physical mistake, rather than a judgement error.

'Fully co-operate'

Kyle's mother, Lisa Thomson, 31, from Pilton, phoned the helpline after noticing rashes all over her son's body during the night.

The inquiry heard on Tuesday how she was told to wait for a call back from nurses and it took about 40 minutes for an adviser to get back to her.

In a statement NHS24 said: "You will understand that our thoughts and sympathies are very much with the family at this very difficult time.

"Our focus therefore is to fully co-operate and support all aspects of the enquiry where we possibly can.

"Patient care continues to be our priority and we remain committed to delivering a vital service for patients in Scotland."