NHS 111 call delay 'significant' in teen's death

Multiple opportunities were missed to help a teenage boy who died from sepsis while waiting for a call back from the NHS 111 service, an inquest jury has ruled.

Cyrus Perry, 17, became unwell at his home in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset, in June 2023.

His mother, Hayley Perry, waited almost eight hours for a call and previously told Bournemouth Coroner's Court her son died during the night.

The jury recorded a verdict of death by natural causes, but also said the lack of a timely call back was "significant" as Cyrus "was not afforded the opportunity of the medical treatment he required".

The court previously heard Cyrus had autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and the immune condition lupus.

After an operation to remove his adenoids and implant grommets into his ears in April 2023, he became unwell and was put on antibiotics.

On 6 June he was sick, and the following evening his mother called the NHS 111 helpline at 22:28 BST.

She told a health adviser Cyrus was grey and clammy, his skin felt hot, he was becoming confused and dizzy and his vision was going black when he stood up.

The inquest heard she was advised to take him to hospital, but when she explained that she could not get him downstairs on her own, she was told a clinician would call her back.

She put a cover over him and went to bed, saying she would come back in when she got a call back.

But the inquest was told the call did not come until 06:13 - almost eight hours later.

Mrs Perry said she went into her son's bedroom and found he had died.

Jurors were told the teenager had died from sepsis with group A streptococcus.

Mrs Perry's statement, read out in court, said: "This will haunt me for the rest of my life, as I put trust in the system.

"I have daily flashbacks of seeing my son dead in bed.

"His twin brother... is having counselling. It's impacted all his brothers."

The inquest heard on the night in question it took an average of three hours and six minutes for people on the urgent 20-minute list to be called back.

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