A HAMPSHIRE infant died hours after being sent home from hospital by doctors, an inquest heard.

Eoghan Reid died of an unidentified bacterial infection which developed into sepsis, Winchester Coroner's Court was told.

The 13-month-old was discharged from A&E hours before, but the court heard that the infection was not apparent at that time.

Eoghan, of Grange Road, Alresford, was admitted t the Royal Hampshire County Hospital on December 11 2015 where he was treated for a suspected viral infection.

He returned to the hospital in Winchester hours later, and went into shock.

Eoghan was transferred to Southampton General Hospital but later died on December 12.

His mother Naomi Bennett said the family had been shopping prior to him becoming ill.

"He was a little bit tired towards the end, but not unusually," she said. "Then he started to get really hot and just was not himself."

Dr Oliver Bevington, who treated Eoghan at his first visit to RHCH, said nothing initially suggested sepsis.

When asked by central Hampshire coroner Grahame Short if Eoghan's discharge from hospital was related to a lack of hospital beds, he said that although the ward was full if he had felt the need to admit Eoghan he would have done so, even if this involved a transfer to another hospital.

Eoghan was taken to hospital a second time in the afternoon about eight hours later by medical technician Robert Whittaker, as there were no ambulances available quickly enough.

Dr Ian Rodd of RHCH said Eoghan was, "clearly exceptionally unwell," upon arriving at hospital a second time.

He added that improvements have been made since Eoghan's death, including implementing the sepsis screening tool which was being trialled at the time of his death, as well as revisions to paediatric early warning systems charts.

When asked by Mr Short if the sepsis screening tool would have made a difference, Dr Rodd said he did not believe so, as at the time of his discharge Eoghan would have only fulfilled one of the three criteria on the screening.

Mr Short delivered a narrative conclusion. "I do understand that in cases like this, a child of that age that you have seen grow and prosper and learned to love can never be replaced," he said.

"The evidence shows that there was a missed opportunity to identify that Eoghan may have been a high risk of susceptibility to infection.

"But his presentation at that time and the history given was entirely consistent with a diagnosis of an upper respiratory tract infection.

"That missed opportunity is with the benefit of hindsight."

He recorded a conclusion of death from an unidentified bacterial infection which was not apparent when Eoghan was seen, but was likely to have been developing into sepsis.

In a statement, Eoghan's family said: "We are pleased to hear that following Eoghan's tragic death the Trust have implemented policies to try and ensure other parents don't go through the devastation that we've had to endure.

"Eoghan was a happy, lively toddler and his life was sadly cut short. We hope lessons have been learnt. We will miss Eoghan for the rest of our lives."

A University Hospital Southampton spokesman said: "UHS involvement in this case was minimal and no concerns were raised by the coroner about the treatment and care provided in Southampton."