An eight-year-old girl, Mia Glynn, tragically died of sepsis after being sent home by a GP who claimed the local hospital was full.
Despite showing symptoms of Group A Strep, including vomiting, a severe headache, and a sore throat, Mia’s parents, Soron, 39, and Katie, 37, from Biddulph, Staffordshire, were instructed to return home after two visits to the GP within a four-hour period.
The first visit was on December 5, 2022, and the second, following a worsening condition with a high temperature and intense headache, occurred on the morning of December 8.
A nurse practitioner initially told Mia Glynn’s mother that her symptoms were viral and recommended fluids and paracetamol.
However, when Mia returned to the GP surgery just after midday, a different doctor examined her but again advised her mother to give fluids and ibuprofen and to delay starting antibiotics until Mia went to bed.
The family was informed that the local hospital was full and that they would have to wait in a corridor if they went there. They were advised to take Mia home.
That night, Mia slept in her parents’ bed but woke up early on December 9 disoriented, with blue lips, rashes on her arms and legs, and feeling hot but cold to the touch.
After being rushed to the hospital by ambulance, she was given intravenous fluids and antibiotics. Unfortunately, she went into suspected septic shock and suffered a cardiac arrest about 15 minutes later.
Despite resuscitation efforts, Mia passed away about 20 minutes after arriving at the hospital.
Mia’s cause of death was determined to be sepsis resulting from a Group A Strep infection.
After Mia Glynn’s tragic death, her parents, who also have a son named Beau, 12, enlisted expert medical negligence lawyers to investigate her care and seek answers. In her first public statement since Mia’s passing, her mother Katie said, “Our world and hearts broke forever when our beautiful daughter was taken from us.
Mia had been to the doctor twice, only to be told her symptoms were viral. Just 15 hours later, she died of sepsis. The pain we feel is beyond words.”
Katie described Mia as a vibrant, loving girl who brought joy and laughter to everyone around her. Following Mia’s death, her family and supporters raised over £40,000 through fundraising events. They have donated more than £16,000 to the UK Sepsis Trust and established a charity named aiM, in honor of their daughter.
Katie added, “We’ll never overcome the pain of losing Mia, especially in the manner we did. Our family will never be the same without her. She had her whole life ahead of her and was taken from us in the cruellest way.”
Mia’s father, an engineering teacher, said, “Witnessing Mia in her final moments was devastating. We feel blessed to have had her as our daughter, but we are heartbroken that she was taken from us so soon. While many may know of sepsis, it’s only through Mia’s experience that we truly understand its danger.”
He emphasized the need for public and professional education on recognizing sepsis, urging people to ask, “Could it be sepsis?”
Victoria Zinzan, the specialist medical negligence lawyer representing the family, added, “Mia’s death starkly illustrates the dangers of sepsis. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial, so it’s essential for people to recognize the signs of this life-threatening condition.”
