by James Gamble
The family of a “much-loved” boy who died of a rare heart condition just days after his first birthday hope to discover if more could have been done to save him when an inquest opens next week.
Archie Squire died at Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital in Margate in November 2023.
It happened after doctors allegedly failed to properly diagnose him despite more than 10 visits to A&E in his short life, lawyers say.
His parents, Lauren Parrish and Jake Squire, say they have endured an “incredibly painful” journey since the tot’s death, which has been made worse by having to wait for answers.
Coroner Sarah Clarke has called a number of the doctors and nurses who had reviewed Archie to come to the hearing and answer questions.
Evidence will also be heard from an expert in general practice and a paediatric cardiac surgeon.
It is claimed Archie was taken and reviewed more than 10 times in the A&E and Urgent Care Centre at the QEQM, with symptoms including constipation, breathlessness and “failure to thrive” – relating to him not gaining weight or growing as expected.
The day after his first birthday, he was admitted to the hospital from the A&E department with constipation and vomiting.
He died two days later after suffering two cardiac arrests.
A post-mortem revealed the heart failure was caused by isolated cardiac ventricular inversion, where the left atrium enters the right ventricle and vice-versa.
Archie’s family said in a statement: “Archie was a much-loved, happy little boy, and his death has left an irreparable hole in our lives.
“It has been an incredibly painful journey for our family, which has only been made worse by having to wait years to get answers about what happened to him.
“We are committed to doing all we can to ensure no other family is left having to go through what we have been through, and hope this inquest will finally help us understand whether more could and should have been done to prevent Archie’s death.”
The week-long inquest, beginning on Monday (May 19), will hear from doctors and nurses who reviewed Archie, as well as evidence from an expert in general practice and a paediatric cardiac surgeon.
Leigh Day’s medical negligence solicitor Lily Hedgman added: “His family have shown incredible strength, dignity and resilience throughout this process, motivated by an unwavering determination to ensure that no other family has to endure a similar loss.
“They hope this inquest will provide a full and transparent account of Archie’s care and reveal whether any opportunities to diagnose his heart condition, and therefore avoid his death, were missed.”
A spokesperson for East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust has since told KentOnline: “We offer our heartfelt condolences to Archie’s family and we will work with the coroner to give the family answers.”
