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Fuller inquest into sepsis death of Maya Siek at QEQM Hospital in Margate

13:27, 26 September 2023

updated: 15:06, 26 September 2023

A coroner will investigate whether an NHS trust did enough to save the life of a six-year-old who died of sepsis after being discharged from hospital.

Clinicians who treated Maya Siek at Margate’s QEQM in December last year will be called as inquest witnesses, following a ruling on Monday.

Maya Siek, from Margate, was described by her parents as “very kind and always helpful to everybody”
Maya Siek, from Margate, was described by her parents as “very kind and always helpful to everybody”

Maya, of Margate, died of sepsis two days after being discharged with a diagnosis of tonsillitis last December, despite collapsing twice and her mother insisting something was gravely wrong.

On Monday, northeast Kent coroner Sarah Clarke told Maidstone’s County Hall the state would have to carry out an Article 2 inquest, which involves an 'enhanced investigation' into the death.

During the hearing, lawyers acting for East Kent Hospitals Trust, which runs QEQM, unsuccessfully argued the tragedy did not meet the necessary threshold.

But Ms Clarke threw out the submissions and established which clinicians would be called to appear.

Earliest this year, hospital bosses apologised for Maya being “inappropriately discharged” and vowed to learn lessons following an independent report into her death.

An Article 2 inquest, which refers to Article two of the Human Rights Act - right to life, allows the coroner to conduct an enhanced investigation that intends to uncover whether enough was done to safeguard Maya’s life.

Maya’s mother, step-father and uncle were in attendance at the hearing.

To avoid the family having to suffer through the hearing during the period of the anniversary of the six-year-old’s death, the date for the full inquest has been set for January 22, 23 and 24.

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