Lydia diagnosis- doctors cleared

The Review Team, from the Primary Care Trust, have come to the conclusion that the doctors concerned had acted in an appropriate manner and the decisions taken were reasonable based on the information available.

Brave Lydia, who was just two at the time, had both her legs amputated below the knee, after doctors failed to diagnose septicaemia with shock.

The doctor who saw Lydia two days into her illness said she had an ear infection and he prescribed penicillin.

Lydia's mother Jodie Cross said:"He gave the penicillin for our peace of mind because we were worried she had a pneumococcal infection".

Lydia was running a temperature of 41.5 degrees, suffering sickness and hallucinations, but when her concerned parents rang doctors on a Friday night, they were told not to worry, despite her baby sister Millie having spent time in intensive care with meningitis in the same week.

Talking about the report Mrs Cross said: "There were no surprises. How often do they hold their hands up? They don't."

Mr and Mrs Cross cannot believe that Lydia's condition was not spotted earlier and think that if it had been her legs could have been saved.

"Three times we tried and each time we got turned away," Mrs Cross said. "The doctors wouldn't come out on Monday morning and we felt if they had it would more than likely have saved Lydia's legs."

With everything she's been through, Lydia, who will be four in February, has touched thousands of people's hearts.

And she still surprises her own mum. Talking yesterday, Mrs Cross said: "She's been having trouble with her new legs so she just went to playschool without them today. She walks on the tips of her knees. She'll even go up the slide without them.

"I'm worried about when she goes off to school, knowing how people can be, but she's such a strong character I know if she gets any trouble she'll probably take her leg off and clout them round the head with it!

"People understand. Children at that age are very accepting and the teachers at her playschool are just fantastic."

Mrs Cross added: "Sometimes she sits and strokes my feet and the bottom part of my legs and I don't know if she does it because she can't touch her own.

"But she's very strong and she will do whatever she wants to do."

The family will be continuing their fight for compensation and Mrs Cross has pledged to launch a campaign to change the way parents are treated when presenting symptoms like Lydia and Millie had.

"Parents should not need an appointment if their children are showing symptoms of meningitis and I would also like to see a paediatric nurse in every health centre," Mrs Cross said.

"Other parents need to know what symptoms to look for. If your child has a very high temperature and is hallucinating that was horrendous don't get fobbed off."

Chris Hayes, spokesperson for the Primary Care Trust, said: "Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust investigated the way the North Wiltshire co-operative out-of-hours service dealt with Lydia's case. The findings revealed that none of the doctors involved could be blamed for the deterioration of her illness it was considered they had done their reasonable best."

Spokesman for the co-operative, Dr Andrew Cowie said: "This is a very tragic case and we are very sad about what happened to Lydia. We feel strongly that everything was done that should have been done. Both doctors who were involved in Lydia's treatment were fully aware that her sister had been in hospital. Despite examining her very carefully they could still not find any evidence of a serious illness.

"However tragic this case is, there is nothing the doctors could have done to predict her deterioration."

The family who moved from their home near Chippenham last month are now settling in to life in Devon.

Mrs Cross said: "All of my family are from around here. My mum lives just down the road so she can pop in for a cup of tea. Lydia is doing well now but we will do all we have to to win compensation."