New inquest call over death of boy, three, at former Stafford Hospital

And health bosses have been criticised for their 'poor' response to concerns raised by Jonnie Meek's family - with an expert saying there is evidence of a 'closed culture' in the NHS.

An inquest ruled that Jonnie died of natural causes brought on by pneumonia three days after being admitted to the hospital on Weston Road for a planned appointment on August 11 last year.

But parents John Meek and April Keeling from Cannock believe their son, who suffered from a rare congenial disability called de Grouchy syndrome, died from a reaction to a new feed put directly into his stomach.

After carrying out an independent investigation consultant paediatrician Dr Martin Farrier has now called for the original inquest verdict to be scrapped.

He said it was 'most plausible' that Jonnie, who suffered from rare congenial disability de Grouchy syndrome, died due to an allergic reaction to the new type of milk.

But the consultant stopped short of saying that it was the definitive cause - and has recommended a new inquest be held.

He also said Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust offered a 'poor' response to the family's concerns and did not respond adequately to them.

The parents had previously accused health chiefs of a cover-up and said the truth of Jonnie's death had not been told.

Andrew Donald, chief executive at Cannock Chase Clinical Commissioning Group, apologised to Jonnie's parents for the length of time if has taken to get answers to their original complaint.

He confirmed the health body would seek to get the original inquest verdict quashed and ensure a new inquest was held.

The review found that Jonnie's reaction to the new milk feed was a 'very unlikely' event which could not have been predicted by the medical staff caring for him

And though it found it 'cannot be conclusively stated' that his reaction to the milk feed was the cause of Jonnie's death, Dr Farrier said he regarded it as the 'most plausible' of a range of unlikely events

The response of the medical staff to Jonnie's deterioration was 'exceptionally rapid' and a 'very experienced team' attempted resuscitation, Dr Farrier said.

But given the conclusion reached by the inquest, Dr Farrier recommended that a new inquest should be held.

He said: "The failure to give adequate consideration to an anaphylactic reaction as a potential cause of death is surprising. It is the most obvious cause for deterioration given Jonnie's reason for admission. Reporting the cause of death as pneumonia is at odds with the clinical information and this contradiction should have been noted. There should have been at least an expression of uncertainty."

Dr Farrier said new guidelines should be drawn up for children being introduced to new types of milk, and that 'all possible causes' of Jonnie's death should have been explored.

And he added: "I consider that problems of a closed culture within the NHS continue to exist. Expectation of blame leads to defensive behaviours.

"There should be an expectation within NHS organisations that they will openly co-operate with reviews of care performed within the NHS."

Mr Meek previously spoke of the family's pain over Jonnie's death and the subsequent battle they faced.

He said: "The inquest was not closure for us because the verdict was based on lies. Losing him was bad enough but they are walking all over his memory. We just want the truth and they are trying to cover it up.

"We haven't been able to grieve for our little boy because we have to keep fighting."

Mr Donald said: "Firstly I would like to offer my sympathies to the family of Jonnie Meek. I also want to publicly apologise to the family that it has taken 15 months to answer their questions.

"The events of August 11 were unexpected and catastrophic for Jonnie. I am convinced having read the clinical review that if the family had been listened to when the trust received the original complaint then we would not have had to commission this review.

"The complaints procedure has failed and I pay tribute to Jonnie's family for their fight to get the answers they deserve.

"We are pleased that Dr Farrier concluded that medical staff did everything in their power to keep Jonnie alive – there is no suggestion that anyone did anything wrong in the medical care provided.

"We will now take steps to have the first inquest verdict quashed and a second inquest held.

"We accept the recommendations of the report and will seek to implement them in consultation with NHS colleagues and other partners."