Baby died day after medical check

Aleesha's parents were told their daughter had a viral infection

A nine-month-old baby died from multiple organ failure the day after being sent home from hospital, an inquest heard.

Aleesha Evans's parents were told by staff at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport that she had a viral infection and needed only Calpol and Nurofen.

The inquest at Cardiff heard she was taken home but rushed back to hospital.

She died at a Cardiff hospital of suspected meningococcal septicaemia. The inquest continues.

Aleesha's mother Shiree Hanbury and father Craig Evans said they were told by the Royal Gwent Hospital that Aleesha had a viral infection.

Ms Hanbury told the inquest: "My daughter was happy and always smiling and was in generally good health.

"When we got to the hospital Craig kept saying 'Is it meningitis?' They said no.

"They told us to keep an eye on her and give her Calpol and Nurofen."

She wept in the witness box as she went on to describe what happened at home the next morning.

Shiree Hanbury was told by the hospital to give her daughter Calpol

"I woke up at seven and I saw Aleesha was covered in bruises. I called an ambulance straight away and we went to the Royal Gwent Hospital," she said.

Two nurses from the hospital and a senior house officer have all said they did not believe she had meningitis.

The nurses said a rash on her abdomen was not typical of meningitis.

Staff nurse practitioner Claire McCarthy said the unit saw about three children a day with similar symptoms but she saw only two a year with meningitis.

But staff nurse Sarah Morrison said she had expected Aleesha to be admitted to hospital because her temperature continued to rise despite being given Nurofen.

Mr Evans said: "Aleesha was miserable in hospital, she had a red blotch on the left side of her rib cage.

"At least two doctors pressed around the mark but not on the mark."

He said a doctor told him: "It's not meningitis, or anything like that. You've got nothing to worry about, it's just a viral infection."

"I'll never forget my beautiful daughter and I'm having trouble coming to terms with it," said Mr Evans.

Dr Michael Kelsey, a consultant microbiologist, said the post mortem examination report into the death of the baby indicated she did not have meningitis.

He said she appeared to have died from multiple organ failure as a result of meningococcal septicaemia.

The inquest continues.