A couple whose "adorable" four-year-old son died of sepsis after they were sent home from hospital and told to give him Calpol are hoping an inquest will provide "vital answers" .
Lindita Alushi and Kastriot Klosi, who live in Kentish Town, took their autistic son Daniel to the Royal Free Hospital in Pond Street, Hampstead, four times in the week before his death in March last year.
Each time they said they were concerned their son was seriously ill and sent home. But on the fourth visit the child was admitted to the children's emergency department and died.
An inquest into Daniel’s death is due to start on Tuesday (August 13) at Poplar Coroner’s Court and last two days.
Lindita, a pharmacy assistant and qualified doctor in her native Albania, said: "We still struggle to understand what happened to Daniel and why.
"We kept taking him to hospital and were really concerned about his condition but nothing can prepare you for being told your little boy has died.
“That day our family changed forever. Our days are filled with distress, emptiness and sorrow.
"While time has moved on it has stood still for our family because of the many unanswered questions around what happened to Daniel."
The couple took Daniel to A&E at the Royal Free Hospital on Sunday March 26, 2023 but he was sent home a couple of hours later.
On the Thursday night they returned to hospital, concerned for Daniel’s breathing.
Again they were discharged in the early hours of Friday and advised to give Daniel Calpol and ibuprofen.
Lindita, 44, and Kastriot, 50, continued to be concerned about Daniel, who they said had stopped eating.
They took Daniel to hospital on Saturday April 1, but said they were sent home with the same advice as the day before.
The couple returned with their son at around 4pm.
They said after around four hours in A&E, Daniel was admitted. However, his condition deteriorated, and he died in the early hours of April 2.
“Every day we wonder if more could have been done to save our little boy," Lindita said.
"We know that hearing everything again at the inquest will be incredibly difficult, but it’s something we need to do to honour our son and get the answers we’ve been seeking for more than a year.
"Daniel was the most adorable little boy and we were so blessed that he was our son. He loved cooking and baking with me. He loved animals, listening to stories and playing with his friends.
"Daniel was very inquisitive and curious. He was just an absolute delight."
The couple have instructed specialist medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate his care.
Lucy Macklin, an expert medical negligence lawyer at law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: “Attempting to try and come to terms with Daniel’s death and the events leading up to it has been incredibly difficult for Lindita and Kastriot.
“Understandably they continue to have many questions and concerns about the care their son received and Daniel’s death.
“While nothing will ever make up for Daniel’s death, we’re determined to support his loved ones so they at least can be provided with the vital answers they deserve. The inquest is a major milestone in being able to do this.
“If during the course of the hearing any issues in the care Daniel received are identified, it’s vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety for others.”
A Royal Free London spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened by the death of Daniel and once again would like to send our sincere condolences to his family.
"We have carried out an investigation into Daniel’s care and the findings were shared with his family. We await the outcome of the inquest.”
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