A coroner has called for urgent action from the NHS following the death of a 10-year-old boy from an asthma attack, which she described as 'avoidable'. William Gray, from Southend, died in May 2021 after suffering a fatal attack at home.
Essex area coroner Sonia Hayes said William's prior treatment was 'sub optimal' and that healthcare professionals had shown 'neglect'. She highlighted an 'absence of appropriate assessments and reviews' despite William meeting the criteria for specialist referral after a seven-year history of asthma.
The inquest heard that William had a life-threatening attack in October 2020, where paramedics administered adrenaline and chest compressions. However, during the fatal attack in May 2021, the same paramedics did not give adrenaline. The coroner noted that the East of England Ambulance Service missed an opportunity to understand the importance of adrenaline administration and that crews were misled about equipment sizes.
William's mother, Christine Hui, said his asthma was not taken seriously in the months before his death. The coroner also warned that the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Children's Asthma & Allergy Service, remained under-resourced while attempting to expand.
In response, the ambulance service said it had increased the number of staff able to perform intubation. The trust running Southend Hospital said it had brought in numerous changes since William's death. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said training emphasises skills for accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.
