A toddler died from a rare heart condition after hospital doctors ignored his parents’ fears and repeatedly dismissed symptoms as a chest infection, an inquest is expected to hear.
Archie Squire, from Kent, was rushed to hospital more than 10 times in his first, and only, year of life after suffering from constipation and breathlessness.
But his parents Lauren Parrish and Jake Squire, claim he was discharged on several occasions diagnosed with the common respiratory infection bronchiolitis.
In November last year he was admitted one last time to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in Margate with constipation and vomiting.
Two days later however — just three days after his first birthday — he died following two separate cardiac arrests.
Archie Squire, was rushed to hospital more than 10 times in the space of a year suffering constipation and even breathlessness. But his parents Lauren Parrish and Jake Squire, claim he was discharged on several occasions diagnosed with the common infection bronchiolitis
In November last year he was admitted again to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother hospital in Margate with constipation and vomiting. Two days later however — just three days after his first birthday — he died following two separate cardiac arrests
A postmortem found Archie had a rare heart condition, called isolated cardiac ventricular inversion, which had gone undetected.
This occurs when the chambers of the heart — the ventricles — are in the wrong positions, meaning the left atrium enters the right ventricle and the right atrium enters the left ventricle.
Studies have suggested there have been fewer than 50 cases of isolated ventricular inversion reported globally since 1966.
An East Kent Hospitals Trust investigation into the death, ordered by the coroner, has reportedly found there were ‘missed opportunities’ to recognise an ‘abnormal cardiac shadow’ on X-ray in October 2023.
An ECHO — a scan used to look at the heart — was said to have been ordered in the same month but wasn’t requested as urgent.
By the time of his death Archie had still not undergone the ECHO.
Faults were also reportedly found in other aspects of Archie’s care such as delays in accepting GP referrals, clinic letters and previous attendances and admissions not reviewed and medical information not always appropriately shared.
The 89-page report prepared ahead of Archie’s inquest also claimed medics didn’t consider a wider diagnosis beyond bronchiolitis.
Archie has been described by his parents as a ‘happy little lad who was always smiling’. He is survived by his younger brother Albie as well as his mum and dad.
The pre-inquest review hearing into his death will be held today at North East Kent Coroner’s Court.
East Kent Hospitals Trust has been contacted for comment.
