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Family to take legal action over Calum death
The devastated parents of an 18-day-old boy, who died after suffering heart failure, plan to take legal action against the hospital they claim failed him.
Lianne Sabin and Mark Smith believe Calum Smith would have had a better chance of survival if he had been kept in hospital.
An inquest into the youngster's death heard he had been sent home twice from the Royal Preston Hospital after his parents took him in.
Now the couple have appointed a solicitor to investigate whether more could have been done.
Miss Sabin, 21, said: "We have got a medical negligence solicitor on it. We have written to the GMC and are waiting to hear from them.
"We are just feeling the same really, it is hard work. It won't bring him back."
The inquest into Calum's death in Preston heard that a few days after his healthy birth, he developed a scab on his nose.
Mr Smith, 25, of Travers Place, Ashton, said Calum was admitted to hospital for four days after he began making "grunting" noises.
He underwent tests including a chest X-ray and a lumbar puncture, but they all came back clear and he was sent home with antibiotics.
A few days later, the family health visitor expressed concern that Calum's legs were floppy and he was taken back to hospital, checked and sent home.
Calum developed thrush in his mouth and when the community midwife checked him over, she was not happy about his breathing.
The parents took Calum to see Dr Nair, their GP at Docklands Medical Centre, Ashton, because he was cold, sweating and pale. He was pronounced dead in the early hours of February 27.
A spokesman for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Royal Preston Hospital, said: "We have met with the family to discuss the case.
"We would like to offer our heartfelt condolences, however, we are unable to make any further comment because of the family's intention to take legal action."
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Weather for Preston
Tuesday 07 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -6 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
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