Family of toddler who died from sepsis after doctors 'misdiagnosed him with constipation' win NHS payout

Family of toddler who died from sepsis after doctors 'misdiagnosed him with constipation' win NHS payout Hudson Cole Perrins, two, was brought to hospital where doctors diagnosed him with contipation, tragically just four days later the tot died from multiple organ failure and sepsis caused by a UTI The family of a toddler who died from sepsis after doctors "misdiagnosed him with constipation" have won a payout from the NHS. Hudson Cole Perrins was taken to Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital by his concerned dad after he began complaining of stomach pains in June 2024. Doctors assessed him and told his parents the tot had constipation before sending him home after giving him two suppositories as well as an enema. Tragically, just four days later the "boisterous and cheeky" two-year-old passed away at Birmingham Children's Hospital from multiple organ failure and sepsis caused by a urinary tract infection. His heartbroken mum Kayleigh Taundry spent the past two years fighting for answers and has now won an undisclosed settlement after Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust admitted failure in its care. Kayleigh had worked as a nurse for the trust for 18 years but said she left her job in April as she felt she could no longer dedicate her time, skills and profession to a trust which "failed her son." She added: "It's devastating to think that on top of everything else, Hudson was left in pain in his last few days when it didn't need to happen. "Nothing will ever bring Hudson back, but it means a great deal to finally have it accepted that he should have been given pain relief and that his catheter should have been checked properly. I hope this settlement, and the failures it has brought to light, mean lessons are genuinely learned so another family doesn't have to go through what we have." Hudson was first taken to the hospital in the early hours of June 23, 2024, by his dad where doctors felt hardness in his tummy and concluded it was constipation. Kayleigh and her partner, Shannon Waightman, took Hudson back to New Cross the following day when he began having seizures and was still in pain. He was later transferred to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Birmingham Children's Hospital, where he died on June 27 after his parents took the heartbreaking decision to turn off his life support. Kayleigh stressed that she in no way blames Hudson's dad for what happened when he first took Hudson to hospital, but believes staff should have made more efforts to contact her as Hudson's next of kin. Keyleigh, from Willenhall, West Mids, said Hudson had a complex medical history that included bladder and kidney issues as well as his heart problem. She believed that hospital staff took the "obvious" route of diagnosing and treating constipation instead of investigating other options, even when there was little evidence of constipation. She claims Hudson's death could have been prevented if staff at New Cross Hospital had given him pain relief and checked him properly before he was left in pain in his last few days. An inquest in December 2024 ruled that Hudson died from natural causes, with Black Country Coroner Kelly Dixon hearing that the trust had not followed its own guidelines when Hudson was first assessed in A&E. Kayleigh said previously: "He was one month from turning three. He was very cheeky and boisterous, but really loving as well. He really loved a cuddle and was really affectionate. He was our baby. Hudson was born with a heart defect and had to undergo heart surgery at seven months old. We thought that would be the worst hurdle he would have to overcome. "He was finally turning a corner. He was finally catching up, he was finally starting to develop alongside his peers, he was finally starting to talk and we just didn't expect this at all. We are all still in denial. I can't put it into words - he was a beautiful boy." In a statement, The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust denied that its diagnosis, and its decision not to investigate further, amounted to a breach of duty. However, it did admit Hudson should have been given pain relief earlier, and staff should have checked how much fluid was draining into his catheter bag but has not accepted that either failure caused his death. Michael Portman-Hann, from law firm FBC Manby Bowdler, which represented the family, said: "While the trust maintains that these failures didn't affect the eventual outcome for Hudson, his family will always be left wondering whether he suffered more than he should have in his final days, and that is something no parent should have to carry." A spokesman for the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust said: "As this claim is an ongoing matter it would not be appropriate for the trust to comment at this time."