The parents of Zara Cheesman expressed their disappointment in NHS medical personnel for overlooking two opportunities to save their daughter’s life during her battle with meningitis. Tragically, the 15-year-old passed away at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham just days before Christmas last year.
Zara’s parents recounted how she fell ill in December, experiencing vomiting and later collapsing, prompting a call to 111. Despite showing signs of meningitis, upon arrival at the hospital, a nurse practitioner suspected a stomach bug rather than meningitis. The decision not to conduct blood tests before discharging her has left the parents devastated.
The following day, Zara displayed confusion, leading to the involvement of emergency medical technicians. Despite concerns raised by her parents, the technicians attributed her symptoms to norovirus, failing to recognize the severity of her condition. Eventually, she was rushed to the hospital after a critical deterioration in her condition, but it was too late.
Zara’s parents criticized the NHS staff for missing crucial opportunities to diagnose and treat their daughter’s meningitis, a condition they believe could have been easily managed with timely intervention. Describing Zara as a bright student with aspirations of becoming a human rights lawyer, her mother expressed deep sadness over the unfulfilled potential and promising future that was cut short.
The inquest into Zara’s tragic death is ongoing, with her parents emphasizing their loss and the need for improved medical practices to prevent similar tragedies in the future.