Lancashire coroner assigns toddler's cause of death after 2-year-old succumbs to nightmare illness

Ava Grace Hodgkinson was originally taken to the GP in December 2022 with a chesty cough, with parents Adam and Jade leaving with a prescription for amoxicillin, a penicillin antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections such as chest infections.

Join our new WhatsApp Community to get the latest news and top stories from across Lancashire directly to your phone.

At the time, there was a national shortage of the first-line antibiotic phenoxymethylpenicillin at pharmacies across the country caused by an outbreak of Strep A. As a result, the Hodgkinsons received the aforementioned prescription for amoxicillin, but when Adam when to collect it from Banks Pharmacy, he was told the correct dosage was also out of stock.

Get a bespoke headline round-up, as well as breaking updates, when you sign up to the The Lancashire Post’s free emails

The following morning, a new prescription was available for collection, but only hours after taking her first dose, Ava’s condition deteriorated, leading her mother Jade to carry her into A&E at Ormskirk & District General Hospital. There the two-year-old went into cardiac arrest and died.

Keep up-to-date with the latest UK news, sport and culture with our free UK Today newsletter.

A Lancashire County Council inquest into Ava’s death was carried out between January 6 and January 8 of 2025, concluding that ‘Ava died on 14 December 2022 at Ormskirk District General Hospital following a short illness. Ava was examined by a G.P. where no infection was found, but antibiotics were prescribed.’

Get a bespoke headline round-up, as well as breaking updates, when you sign up to the The Blackpool Gazette’s free emails

It continued: “The following morning, Ava took the first dose of antibiotics, however her condition later worsened and she was driven to Ormskirk District General Hospital in the early afternoon, where, upon arrival, she was noted to be in cardiac arrest and despite attempts to resuscitate, she did not recover.”

The report concluded by saying that Ava ‘died of overwhelming Sepsis, resulting from Group A Streptococcus infection.’

Also, while you’re here, be sure not to miss some of our other recent popular lifestyle pieces:

I could be the next Jeremy Clarkson! 5 Lancashire farms up for sale for budding farmers in 2025

Lancashire's 26 best restaurants according to you, from Michelin star eateries to local takeaways

Vast 6-bed Blackpool Promenade property still up for sale chain-free with reduced price tag

I love Lancashire! The 35 best villages, towns, and cities to live in the North West, according to you

Deserted 5 bed Blackpool mansion with swimming pool and overgrown gardens still for sale with slashed price