Jury Concludes Neglect Contributed to Five-Year-Old Girl's Death After 2023 Hospital Discharge

Greater Manchester – June 5, 2025 – A jury has concluded that neglect contributed to the death of a five-year-old girl who died just hours after being discharged from Tameside Hospital, despite showing significant symptoms of meningitis.

Lila Marsland was found unresponsive in bed by her mother, Rachael Mincherton, on the morning of December 28, 2023. Tragically, this was approximately eight hours after Lila had been sent home from the hospital's A&E department with medication for suspected tonsillitis.

An inquest at Stockport Coroners Court, which lasted eight days, heard that Lila died from pneumococcal meningitis streptococcal pneumonia. On Thursday, June 5th, the jury delivered its conclusion, determining that the little girl's death was 'contributed to by neglect'.

Their critical finding stated: "Had Lila been admitted to hospital and given broad spectrum antibiotics within the first hour of being triaged, this would have prevented Lila’s death."

The court heard harrowing details of Lila's initial presentation at Tameside A&E. Her mother had taken her daughter in due to concerning symptoms including headaches, a sore throat, a high heart rate, neck pain and limited neck movement, vomiting, lethargy, and being unable to pass urine – symptoms which the court heard included classic signs of meningitis.

Ms. Mincherton specifically asked paediatric advanced nurse practitioner, Ms. Casey, who worked in the paediatric A&E department, whether her child could be suffering from meningitis.

Ms. Casey told the jury she was 'clinically concerned' that Lila's symptoms could be coming from tonsillitis, meningitis, or another underlying illness. However, she explained her belief that the child's neck pain was due to inflamed lymph nodes and her high heart rate a result of pain.

Ms. Casey's medical assessment was acknowledged as she had explained for the inquest that she attributed the child's neck pain to inflamed lymph nodes. Furthermore, she testified that the child's elevated heart rate was, in her professional opinion, a direct consequence of the pain the little was experiencing. This explanation of the physiological connection between the neck pain, swollen lymph nodes, and increased heart rate formed a critical part of her testimony, and likely influenced the jury's understanding of the child's overall condition and the potential causes behind it.

While meningitis remained a "differential diagnosis," the nurse stated that her physical examination of Lila and blood test results suggested the symptoms were consistent with tonsillitis, or a related illness such as those caused by viruses.

Lila was subsequently given a dose of antibiotics in hospital and discharged at around 2 AM on December 28th with further antibiotics and a throat spray.

Ms. Mincherton recounted that after returning home to Hyde, she and Lila got into bed and fell asleep. Lila woke around 4 am complaining of a headache and was given a half dose of Calpol.

At approximately 9 am, Ms Mincherton woke to find Lila unresponsive. She immediately called 999 and attempted CPR. Paramedics arrived at the home, and Lila Marsland was pronounced dead at 9:19 am that morning.