I’M sorry – that was the categorical apology to grieving parents after a health boss admitted failings led to their son not being given immediate emergency treatment for pneumonia from which he later died.

Rob and Tracy Lovett battled to get medical help for their son Gary as his condition deteriorated, but on two occasions “opportunities were missed” by NHS Direct that should have resulted in him being given emergency care.

It was several hours later when he was eventually admitted to hospital where he died, an inquest into his death heard At the hearing NHS Direct’s nursing boss for the south of England Stuart Toulson spoke frankly and admitted failings by his team in the hours before Gary died.

The boss revealed he has since sacked the nurse involved and referred her to the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which is now investigating.

The latest evidence comes as an inquest was resumed into Gary’s death.

Southampton coroner Keith Wiseman said Gary’s parents tried to get help from three different health agencies – Aldermoor GP surgery, NHS Direct and Solent Healthcare out of hours service.

Gary, a charity worker, should have been rushed to the city’s accident and emergency department when the family first sought advice from NHS Direct, Mr Toulson said.

Southampton Coroners Court heard there were individual failures in both the first call the Lovett family made in the early hours of Christmas Day 2010 and the call back from the qualified nurse four hours later.

He said the first call advisor failed to recognise the urgency of his assessment and there were “missed opportunities”.

Hours later the nurse failed to pick up on the deterioration of his symptoms – recommending over-the-counter remedies instead.

Mr Toulson said: “I feel certain there should have been an urgent face-toface consultation with this patient.

“The findings derive not from hindsight but records measuring red flags which were not effectively picked up.

He added: “We acknowledge there were failings and we apologise and I verbally apologise here to the family, for the outcome of those calls.”

The family were then forced to call Solent Healthcare’s out-of-hours service at midday – who organised a faceto- face appointment at a clinic at 4pm.

The court previously heard it was the first time Gary was seen in person by a medical professional.

Out-of-hours doctor Dr Amyn Kadri defended sending him home with antibiotics and other medicationdespite Gary having to be taken to the appointment at Royal South Hants Hospital in a wheelchair.

At 2am on Boxing Day Gary, from Lordswood, was rushed to Southampton General Hospital by his family where he died at 3.10am.

Despite NHS Direct’s admissions, yesterday health boss Andrew Lennon, who represented Solent Healthcare out of hours service, adamantly denied any wrongdoing on behalf of his service.

He said: “I’m satisfied our systems work correctly and the advice he received was safe and appropriate.”

The Daily Echo has previously reported Gary fell ill in the lead up to Christmas with symptoms including diarrhoea, vomiting, fever, cough and chest pains. Giving evidence yesterday the court also heard from GP Dr Patrick Terry, who had a five minute telephone consultation on December 23.

The doctor there defended not seeing Gary in person to assess him further – despite the family living just minutes from the surgery – putting his symptoms down to a bout of flu.

The inquest is due to continue today.