WHEN five-year-old Lila Marsland started complaining of neck pain, a headache and vomiting, mum Rachael Mincherton took her to hospital.
After being diagnosed with tonsillitis, the “adorable” youngster was discharged – but just hours later was found dead.
Lila, who also had a fever and lethargy, was seen at Tameside Hospital in Greater Manchester, and Rachael, who was a nurse at the time, asked hospital staff if her daughter could have meningitis – inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
After being seen by “a range of healthcare professionals”, the primary school pupil was deemed to have viral tonsillitis and was sent home with oral antibiotics and a throat spray.
Just six and a half hours later on December 28, 2023, Rachael woke up at around 9am to find that Lila was unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at 9.19am.
Speaking before the inquest, which was heard between May 27 and June 5, 2025, Rachael, 36, said: “When we arrived home from hospital, I slept with Lila that night and when I woke she was unresponsive.
“The paramedics arrived in minutes and did everything they could, but it was too late.
“At that moment our family changed forever.”
Rachael, of Hyde, Greater Manchester, described Lila as “the most amazing and adorable little girl” who had a “zest for life.”
“She was a gentle soul who had many friends and all the teachers at school thought the world of her,” she added.
“I’d pick Lila up and it would take half an hour to leave as she would be hugging all of the teachers.
“Lila played with her friends, loved dancing, cheerleading and Rainbows.
“She had a zest for life and her entire future ahead of her.
“It breaks our hearts that she’ll never get to make the most of life and fulfil her potential.”
An initial investigation into the youngster’s death indicated that Lila had signs of meningitis bacteria in fluid surrounding her brain.
The inquest at Manchester South Coroner’s Court in Stockport concluded she died as a result of pneumococcal meningitis, which was preventable and “contributed to by neglect”.
“Had Lila been admitted to hospital and given broad spectrum antibiotics within the first hour of being triaged, this would have prevented Lila’s death,” the jury said.
In a prevention of future deaths report, Coroner Chris Morris raised concerns that there seems to be no record of Lila being examined at the hospital.
Addressing Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the chief executive of Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, he said: “It is a matter of concern that the locum consultant in emergency medicine who completed a form indicating Lila was ‘safe to transfer’ to the paediatric emergency department did so without undertaking any examination or direct assessment of her.
“The doctor had previously filed a statement at court indicating he had undertaken a ‘preliminary visual assessment’ of Lila, but accepted in oral evidence that this was not, in fact, the case.
“I am concerned that no medical record appears to exist of the examination of Lila, which resulted was discharged from hospital.
“The absence of this key piece of evidence serves to limit the ability of the Trust to derive all possible learning from Lila’s death.”
We wouldn’t wish what we’re having to go through on anyone
Rachael Mincherton
The court heard evidence that, over the course of almost 10 hours in hospital, Lila’s history and details of examinations and assessments undertaken were recorded on a mixture of various analogue and digital systems in operation in different parts of the Trust.
“This led to a risk of vital clinical information being lost in the system,” Mr Morris said.
“I am concerned that this, and other hospitals elsewhere in the country, continue to operate with information being stored and shared between professionals in a fragmented and disjointed way.
“In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you and your organisation have the power to take such action.”
Since Lila’s death, Rachael and her scaffolder partner Darren Marsland, 42, have set up a charity called Lila’s Light – where they raise money to provide hospitals with bereavement bags for siblings who have lost a brother or sister.
They have raised thousands of pounds so far, through a variety of fundraisers, including a family fun day and charity football match.
Rachael, who also has a 15-year-old daughter Ava, said: “No family thinks they’ll ever find themselves in this position.
“It’s almost impossible to put into words the feeling of loss our family faces every day and how Lila’s death will remain with us forever.
“Hearing the word ‘neglect’ is something a parent should never have to hear and we are now left with the devastating loss of our daughter for the rest of our lives.
“We wouldn’t wish what we’re having to go through on anyone.
“However, fundraising is our way of trying to keep Lila’s memory alive while also giving something back and helping other families who may need support.”
Know the signs of meningitis and septicaemia
Meningitis is inflammation of the lining around the brain and spinal cord – the meninges.
Septicaemia is blood poisoning caused by the same germs as meningitis and is life-threatening. It can occur with or without meningitis.
Both meningitis and septicaemia can kill in hours, so it is critical to know the symptoms so you can act fast.
Symptoms can appear in any order and not all of them show. For example, the meningitis rash does not always appear.
It can be hard to tell meningitis/septicaemia apart from other common bugs.
The symptoms marked with a * indicate those that are more specific to meningitis/septicaemia and are rarer with common bugs.
Symptoms of both septicaemia and meningitis
- Fever and/or vomiting
- Very sleepy, vacant or difficult to wake
- Confused/delirious*
- A rash, which can be anywhere on the body*
Additional symptoms of meningitis
- Severe headache
- Seizures
- Dislike of bright lights
- Stiff neck*
Additional symptoms of septicaemia
- Breathing fast/breathlessness
- Pale or mottled skin
- Limb/muscle/joint pain, which may come with stomach pain or diarrhoea *
- Cold hands, feet or shivering*
Source: Meningitis Research Foundation
Jack Bookey, the expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing the family, said: “Rachael and Darren remain devastated at losing their little girl so suddenly and tragically.
“Understandably they have a number of questions and concerns over what happened to Lila and the events leading up to her death.
“It’s vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety.”
A spokesperson for Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said: “We want to express our sincere condolences to Lila’s family for this tragic loss.
“It is clear from the independent investigation that there were missed opportunities in Lila’s care.
“We accept the coroner’s findings and apologise unreservedly for this.
“As a Trust, we have made and will continue to make improvements to ensure we learn from this case.”
