A CORONER yesterday launched a scathing attack on NHS professionals for a series of decisions made during the treatment of a ten-year-old boy who later died from meningitis.

William Cressey succumbed to the deadly brain disease in February 2005 after he was discharged from Darlington Memorial Hospital.

The schoolboy was later readmitted by his frantic mother, Cheryl, who claims she repeatedly asked doctors not to send him home as she was convinced he had meningitis.

Doctors failed to spot the disease, and William slipped into a coma before dying on the morning of March 1.

The inquest into his death at Newcastle Civic Centre yesterday heard that doctors and nurses: ● Could not prove that he was effectively observed during his first spell in hospital; ● Discharged him without full examination; ● Decided against giving him lifesaving antibiotics once he was readmitted.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Godfrey Nyamugunduru said he had examined William and ruled out meningitis as the cause of his headaches, but left instructions for him to be monitored throughout the day.

But Coroner David Mitford said there were no records that Dr Nyamugunduru’s colleagues had examined Michael before sending him home that night.

The coroner said: “There is something horribly wrong here.

Nobody was bothered to write anything down.”

When staff nurse Christopher Kirby was asked why medical records were not updated, he said he had kept personal notes, but had later thrown them away.

Mr Kirby denied Mrs Cressey had repeatedly asked staff to give her son antibiotics, and for them to summon a doctor.

He said he did not agree with her account that Michael was suffering excruciating headaches, and had pus streaming from his eyes, but said he had been “calm and comfortable”.

Senior house officer Dr Agadoorappa said she later discharged William without examining him or checking his records from that day, because no one had raised any concerns with her.

Mr Mitford said to her: “This is well below an acceptable level.

“Are you still happy that you were right to discharge the child without examining him?”

Dr Agadoorappa nodded, to which Mr Mitford replied: “We will have to agree to differ.”

Mrs Cressey, of Hurworth Place, near Darlington, later rushed Michael back to the hospital, when he began to lose consciousness.

The inquest heard that the staff grade in paediatrics, Dr Arum, then rang his senior doctor to check if he should give Michael antibiotics, but he was told not to because meningitis had earlier been ruled out.

When Mr Mitford said that he should have given him the drugs anyway, Dr Arum replied: “In retrospect I agree with you.”

The inquest continues.