Isaac Onyeka, who had down’s syndrome and sickle cell trait, died at Whipps Cross Hospital on 31st May following a brief illness
An inquest will look at the sequences of events that led to the death of a three-year-old boy with down’s syndrome at Whipps Cross Hospital in May.
Isaac Onyeka, who also had sickle cell trait, died following a brief illness on May 31st while he was receiving emergency treatment at Whipps Cross Hospital.
At a pre-inquest review hearing on 14th September, Nadia Persaud, the area coroner for East London, said that an inquest will look into the “direct sequences of events” that led to his death, and investigate whether any aspects of the care provided contributed to Isaac’s passing.
The court heard how Isaac had been frequently seen by hospitals for various conditions; in November 2019 he was treated for bronchiolitis, and in July 2021 he was seen for an upper respiratory tract infaction, while in May 2022, he attended hospital with a cough and fever.
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The inquest will look at whether information about those hospital attendances was shared with Forest Practice by the acute trust [Barts Health] and whether it was taken into account by the doctor who saw Isaac shortly before his death in May this year.
A full inquest into his death will take place at the East London Coroners Court in Walthamstow on 4th and 5th March 2024.
At a second pre-inquest review hearing yesterday at the Walthamstow Coroners Court (6th November), Persaud said a full inquest will look into the handling of a 111 call on 30th May 2023, the care provided by the GP on the 31st of May 2023, as well as the emergency care provided on 31st May by the London Ambulance Service and Barts Health.
Isaac’s GP, the Forest Practice in Loughton, Essex, is currently carrying out a formal serious untoward incident investigation into his death.
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