Parents say daughter, 15, ‘let down by NHS’ after meningitis death

The parents of an “intelligent, kind and caring” 15-year-old girl told an inquest into her death two NHS trusts “missed opportunities” to treat her for bacterial meningitis.

Zara Cheesman, from Nottingham, died at the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) on 23 December 2024, several days after she started to feel unwell.

Her parents Mark and Judith said Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust and East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) “let her down” after medics she saw before she died thought she had a virus.

In a statement read at her inquest, her parents said: “We are certain she would have survived if she was given antibiotics.”

Judith read out a tribute to her daughter at Nottingham Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, in which she described Zara as an “A* student” who loved literature and drama, as well as being a huge fan of Taylor Swift.

“Zara was kind and was loyal to all she cared for,” she said.

“There is no doubt she would have gone on to achieve her dreams… now this is all lost. This was cruelly snapped away from us at the tender age of 15.”

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges).

It can affect anyone, but is most common in babies, young children, teenagers and young adults.

Symptoms develop suddenly and can include a high temperature (fever), being sick, a headache, a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop) and a stiff neck.

The inquest heard Zara came home from school on 19 December feeling unwell and began to vomit, which continued throughout the night into the following morning.

Her parents rang 111 and were advised to attend A&E with Zara, who complained of achy limbs and a stiff neck and shoulders “so painful she couldn’t lift her arms”, the inquest heard.

Zara was triaged and assessed by trainee advanced nurse practitioner Alexandra Spedding.

In written testimony, she said there were “no immediate clinical concerns” and the vomiting was “likely viral”.

As a trainee, all of her patients would be examined, she added, and, in Zara’s case, this was done by Dr Derek Huffadine, a registrar who later discharged her.

Giving evidence at the hearing, Dr Huffadine said: “I feel at that time it was difficult to say she had meningitis – it was in early form in terms of the presentation.

“What I wish I could change was the communication – there should have been some written information.

“I honestly did not think she had meningitis. I’m more careful about giving general guidance; if you don’t think your child is well or something has changed, come back.

“If I thought she had meningitis, I would err on the side of caution and give antibiotics.”

But he added her symptoms were a “typical presentation of someone who had a virus”.

The inquest heard Zara deteriorated further with a severe headache, a high temperature and was up in the night showing signs of confusion.

Her parents again called 111, who asked EMAS to attend on 21 December.

The inquest heard Zara’s parents thought two paramedics had attended, but they were later told they were ambulance technicians.

The parents, in their statement, said the paramedics “ignored” the symptoms they told them about and “perceived” the callout was “less severe”.

Zara’s parents also said one of the technicians “complained at length” about the 111 service and was “not focused on Zara”.

They added one of the technicians “made us feel guilty” for calling 111 and decided she would not be admitted.

“We believe they decided she had norovirus. We were asked about if she had a learning disability, which angers us,” the statement said.

“If she was taken into hospital then, we believe she would have probably survived.”

The inquest heard Zara collapsed at about 04:30 GMT on 22 December. She was described as “really limp” and was put in the recovery position before her parents called 999.

A number of paramedics attended the family home and said she had “gone into respiratory arrest”. She was sedated and sent to the QMC under blue lights.

Zara died the following day on 23 December.

The inquest continues.