Darragh Coffey, instructed by Julia Tracy at Capsticks, represents East Sussex Health Care (ESHC) NHS Trust at the inquest into the death of James Manning. In 2018 the 2 year old boy choked on a piece of sausage at Butlins in Bognor Regis.
James had a history of choking and breathing difficulties. He had been referred to Conquest hospital managed by East Sussex, where he was diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and severe obstructive sleep apnoea. He was referred to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton for an outpatient appointment to be assessed for an Adenoidtonsillectomy. Whilst on a family holiday at Butlins in Bognor Regis, he choked on a piece of sausage at the resort which led to his death having suffered an ischaemic hypoxic brain injury.
The inquest will examine communication between Butlins staff and emergency services, issues with the ambulance gaining access to the site, whether James should have had an earlier referral to Royal Sussex County Hospital and whether this could have prevented his death.
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