Hospital doctors were overwhelmed with a surge of patients when a six-year-old who died of sepsis was discharged, an inquest heard.

The hearing at Maidstone’s Oakwood House was told today that clinicians who treated Maya Siek at Margate’s QEQM in December 2022 were also battling staff shortages.

Maya, of Margate, was discharged with a tonsillitis diagnosis, despite collapsing twice and her mother insisting something was gravely wrong.

She was sent home with antibiotics and then readmitted to hospital after her condition deteriorated.

Maya then died of sepsis caused by influenza.

Giving evidence today, accident and emergency consultant Dr Andrew Mortimer, who did not see Maya, explained his shift on December 19, 2022, was the most challenging of his career.

"It was a busy shift in the emergency department,” he said.

“I've worked in emergency medicine for nearly 20 years and been a consultant for eight years and this shift stands out as the most challenging shift of my career.”

He explained the hospital faced a surge of influenza and Covid patients when Maya was being treated.

“There were lots of gaps in staffing overall, in part due to staff illness,” he added.

“I probably didn't leave the site that night until after midnight despite being able to go home and be on call from 8pm.

"I probably wouldn't have discharged her that evening but I didn't personally see her.

"On a normal shift I would expect to be contacted but on that night with a shift which was the most challenging of my career I can understand why that didn't happen.

"She may not have been admitted because it was busy that night and there were lots of concerns about group A strep.

“Would I, hand on heart, discharge a child with persistent tachycardia (a heartbeat over 100 per minute)? Probably not, but as I said I didn't see the patient directly.”

Dr Mortimer told how accident and emergency doctor Nizar Hassini escalated the case to his paediatric registrar who, following a review, “agreed it was appropriate to discharge” Maya.

Dr Hassini, who diagnosed Maya with tonsillitis on December 19, 2022, told the court in a statement staff were facing a “particularly busy day with lots of complicated cases”.

"(Maya) had a 2-3 day history of fever and her mother reported vomiting and diarrhoea.

“There was no mention of any inability to urinate, despite me asking.

“She left smiling and waving but then I was told she had passed out on her way out of the hospital.

“I rushed to her but she was up and was not complaining of any pain when I arrived.

“It was a particularly busy day with lots of complicated cases, including a baby in cardiac arrest."

The Article 2 inquest, which involves an 'enhanced investigation' into the death, is expected to last four days.

Last year, QEQM bosses publicly apologised for Maya being “inappropriately discharged due to a lack of senior clinical oversight” and vowed to learn lessons following an independent report into her death.

The hospital compiled a serious incident report, the results of which were sent to Maya’s mum Magdalena Wisniewska.

The report admitted Maya's case was not escalated to a consultant and there was a failure to acknowledge abnormal blood results.

It revealed a post-mortem examination concluded she died of sepsis caused by influenza A.

Maya’s mum Magdalena Wisniewska last year vowed to fight for justice.

She told today’s hearing how the family home had become “quiet, sad,” and “never quite the same”.

"I still feel Maya's presence with me. She was our best friend and she loved us so much. Our house was full of love and happiness when she was part of it. She was a little artist, always drawing,” she said.

“Now, when I see heart-shaped clouds in the sky I know she's there.

“Maya loved to spend time outside and she had a lust for life. She loved nature and animals.

“Her favourite animals were snails which she would always pick up and put somewhere safe so they weren't stepped on.

“Her school has told us how much she is missed. She had so many friends. Now our house is quiet and sad without her it is never quite the same,” she said.

Together with partner Raj Bande, Ms Wisniewska has made repeated pleas for someone to take responsibility for their daughter’s death,

She told the court Maya wished to work in medicine to help others when she grew up, a fact which makes the tragedy “even sadder that she died because doctors didn't do their jobs properly."

“Maya was a lovely little girl who was always so full of life. She was the best sister for Nathan. I hate to see him break down and cry sometimes when he misses her. Nathan didn't deserve to have lost his sister so young,” she said.

“She loved Christmas and the tree she decorated is still up but we don't celebrate Christmas anymore.

“She was the most amazing little girl and I'm so proud to be her best friend and mother.

“Her aim was to be a doctor because she wanted to make people healthy which is why it is even sadder that she died because doctors didn't do their jobs properly.”

Kent coroner Sarah Clarke told Maidstone’s County Hall last year the state would have to carry out an Article 2 inquest, which involves an 'enhanced investigation' into the death.

During the hearing, lawyers acting for East Kent Hospitals Trust, which runs QEQM, unsuccessfully argued the tragedy did not meet the necessary threshold.

Ms Clarke threw out the submissions and called upon clinicians involved in Maya’s care to give evidence.