LITTLE Alexander Trotter's death will not be in vain after a coroner made formal recommendations on infant care at his inquest.

Wiltshire Coroner David Masters heard how 24-days-old Alexander died of broncho-pneunomia last October after twice being taken to Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon, but was discharged on both occasions after clinicians considered his respiratory problem thought to have been brochiolitis was on the wane.

And, during a two day inquest, the coroner heard how recommendations following the infant's death had still not been fully implemented.

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes, the coroner said: "PMH, moving to a new, modern hospital, should be in the vanguard and if it means a baby check system is inititiated it will be in that vanguard."

Mr Masters formally recommended checks on babies under four weeks old to be upgraded in future, heightening their chances of being admitted into hospital.

Dr Rebecca French, formally based in the paediatric unit of PMH, told how she saw Alexander when he was taken for checks for the second time in two days in October.

Alexander died shortly afterwards after he was discharged from the hospital and had spent the night with his mum Michelle at home.

Dr French said that after carrying out checks on oxygen in his blood, temperature, heart rate and breathing, she concluded that, although he had a respiratory illness, indications as to his well-being were normal.

Dr Lee Wisby, a specialist registrar in paediatrics at PMH, confirmed he was paged by Dr French.

He said: "Dr French told me Alexander didn't seem to be getting any worse. If anything he was better. She asked me my advice and I felt he was safe to be discharged."

The inquest heard that a PMH internal investigation following Alexander's death recommended that babies less than four months old need more careful assessment by more senior members of staff and should have a lower "threshold" for admission to hospital.

A statement from the Trotter family after the inquest said: "If these guidelines had been in place Alex would have been admitted and his chances of survival would have been greater.

"We feel, after the inquest, that his death has not been in vain. Maybe now other babies like Alex would have a better chance."