The parents of five-year-old Lila Marsland are demanding action after their daughter died just hours after doctors wrongly diagnosed her with tonsillitis.

Lila was taken to Tameside General Hospital in Greater Manchester two days after Christmas 2023, suffering from headaches and vomiting. Her mother, Rachael Mincherton, a nurse, feared meningitis—but doctors believed it was only tonsillitis and sent the child home with antibiotics. Just eight hours later, Rachael found her little girl unresponsive in bed.

An inquest later ruled that Lila’s death was preventable and “contributed to by neglect.” Coroner Chris Morris warned that vital medical information is still being lost across the NHS due to “fragmented” record systems. He urged urgent digital improvements to prevent future tragedies.

Rachael says the government’s response has been a “copy and paste” reply with no clear plan for paediatric safety. “They talked about digital investment, but nothing about how hospitals like ours will stop this happening again,” she said.

Officials say £2 billion is being invested to ensure NHS trusts can securely share electronic patient records. But for Lila’s grieving parents, those promises feel too late. “We just want her death to mean something,” Rachael shared. “No family should ever go through this again.”