Parents of tragic Simran say lessons must be learned

Dhesi was admitted to Sandwell General Hospital after vomiting at her school and having abdominal pain.

But following examination Dr Raka Banerjee discharged her and told her mother to take her to her GP if the symptoms persisted. A day later, the pupil at Devonshire Infant School in Smethwick was examined by Dr Sarinder Kaur at a GP practice in Warley Road in Oldbury.

She suspected an infection and told her mother to watch her at home.

The following day, Simran was admitted to hospital and transferred to a paediatric surgery bed at Leicester Royal Infirmary for an urgent surgical examination.

Simran, who had received surgery to repair a hole in her heart the year before, died the next day on September 10 2010 after going into a cardiac arrest due to heart and liver failure.

At the conclusion of a three-day inquest into her death at Smethwick Coroner's Court, Black Country coroner Robin Balmain concluded she died of a rare complication of a congenital heart defect.

In a narrative verdict he did not blame the doctors who assessed Simran, saying the opportunity to diagnose and treat her came too late to prevent death.

Speaking following the hearing, Simran's parents Jatinder and Tarlochan Dhesi paid tribute to their 'beautiful, little daughter' and hoped the medical teams involved would learn from the case.

The family has since moved from Smethwick to West Bromwich following her death.

Mr Dhesi, aged 41, a coach driver, said: "Simran was a happy, playful little girl who had a beautiful smile bringing happiness to us and everyone in her life. She leaves a loving extended family whose lives have been shattered as a result of her tragic death and we can now only take comfort from happy memories of her short life."

He added: "We wish to make it clear that we have always respected the medical profession and continue to do so.

"We know their work is difficult at times.

"However, we believe the coroner's inquiry has shown Simran was a very sick child who needed urgent specialist medical attention which sadly she never received."

He added: "We hope that at least systems will now be improved in the future as a result of her untimely death which will hopefully result in better treatment for other children who attend for emergency care at hospital."

Representing Birmingham City Hospital, Mr Ben Bentley told the inquest that procedures had been looked at following Simran's death.