Three-year-old boy's death from sepsis could have been prevented by quicker ambulance response, inquest reveals

A three-year-old boy named Theo Tuikubulau tragically died from sepsis after a 111 operator did not treat his call as a life-or-death emergency, an inquest revealed.

Theo's mother, Kayleigh Kenneford, called 111 on July 7, 2022, seeking help for her son who was seriously unwell after battling a high fever, flu-like symptoms, and breathing difficulties for 36 hours.

Despite being admitted and discharged from Derriford Hospital the day before with a suspected upper respiratory infection, confusion over emergency call grading systems delayed Theo's urgent care.

The 111 service classified Theo's symptoms as less urgent than the 999 system, resulting in a 90-minute delay before paramedics arrived after the initial call.

Theo was rushed back to Derriford Hospital but tragically succumbed to sepsis caused by a deadly Strep A infection.

Jon Knight from the South West Ambulance Service Trust indicated that a category one call would have triggered a quicker response, potentially saving Theo's life.

The inquest continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding Theo's delayed medical care.