A three-month-old baby faced a terrifying 12-hour ordeal in A&E with suspected sepsis while desperate parents battled to be taken seriously by medical staff.
Little Reggie Jones arrived at Royal Stoke University Hospital's emergency department with worrying symptoms including a high temperature and purple feet - classic signs of potential sepsis. Yet despite his visibly deteriorating condition, the infant was forced to wait through the night as his parents' concerns were repeatedly dismissed.
'We Were Treated Like Time-Wasters'
Mother Stacey, 29, described the harrowing experience: "We knew something was seriously wrong when his feet turned purple and he became increasingly lethargic. Yet every time we raised concerns, we were made to feel like we were overreacting."
The family's nightmare began when Reggie developed a high temperature and unusual skin discolouration. His parents immediately recognised the potential seriousness and rushed him to hospital.
Critical Symptoms Ignored
Despite presenting with multiple sepsis red flags, the baby waited hours for proper assessment. "We watched our son getting worse by the minute while being told we just had to wait our turn," Stacey recalled, her voice trembling with emotion.
The situation reached a critical point when Reggie's condition deteriorated so significantly that staff finally rushed him for emergency treatment. He was eventually diagnosed with a severe bacterial infection and admitted to a specialist ward for intensive antibiotic treatment.
Hospital Trust Launches Investigation
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust has since launched a full investigation into the incident. A spokesperson acknowledged the "unacceptable" waiting times and confirmed that sepsis protocols are being reviewed.
"We sincerely apologise to Reggie's family for their experience and are conducting a thorough investigation to understand what went wrong," the trust statement read.
Sepsis: The Silent Killer
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that claims approximately 50,000 lives annually in the UK. In infants, early recognition and treatment are crucial for survival. Medical experts emphasise that purple skin discolouration, high fever, and lethargy in young babies should always trigger immediate emergency response.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has repeatedly warned about the dangers of prolonged A&E waits, particularly for vulnerable patients like young children and infants.
Reggie has since been discharged and is recovering at home, but his parents say the traumatic experience has left lasting scars. "No family should have to fight this hard to get emergency care for their baby," Stacey said. "We're speaking out because we don't want any other parents to go through what we endured."
