The parents of a 21-year-old who died after doctors failed to spot the signs of meningitis have spoken of their emotional hell.

Tim Mason was sent home from A&E at Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury with flu-like symptoms last March and misdiagnosed with gastroenteritis.

Hours later the trainee electrical engineer, from Tunbridge Wells, was rushed back in and died from a cardiac arrest.

During an NHS Trust board meeting last Thursday, Tim’s parents Fiona and Gavin told health bosses the hospital’s shocking failures made their grief even more difficult to bear.

But the couple offered to help make sure there would be no repeat of the devastating events leading to their’s son’s death.

Mrs Mason said: “Tim was put in a medical coma. Our last words to him were lies that broke our hearts. All we could do was reassure him and promise him we would all be waiting by his side when he woke up even though we knew it was a lie.”

Although doctors leading a serious incident report into the tragedy found failings in Tim’s initial sepsis screening at A&E, it was revealed a third party had later altered the records.

“This tampering merits further investigation,” Mr Mason told the board. He added: “Tim’s death was an avoidable tragedy. Systematic failures one after another continued after his death.

“We were told there would be a post mortem and the hospital would let us know about that, but that contact never came.”

It was only when Mr Mason contacted the coroner directly that he learned no post mortem would be carried out, and the hospital’s cause of death - meningococcal sepsis - had been accepted.

After seven months of “emotional hell” the hospital admitted liability.

Holding back tears, the Masons told board members they were determined to help avoid the same mistakes being made again.

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TRUST SORRY FOR PROLONGING SUFFERING

Improvements have been made at Tunbridge Wells Hospital’s A&E department, following Tim’s death.

Junior doctors will now be encouraged to seek “a senior review” from more experienced clinicians before a patient with abnormal observations is discharged.

A joint visit to the patient will now take place rather than senior medics simply looking over notes.

Tim’s mother Fiona Mason said: “We believe those who learn from mistakes and look to improve will become better medics than those who cling to pathways without learning their ineffectiveness. We also offer to help the trust in whatever capacity we can.”

Chairman of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust board, David Highton, told the Masons: “Please be assured myself and other members of the board will pick up all the points you have made. Trusts have a duty of candour to relatives.

“We clearly took too long to display that.

“My apologies that happened and lengthened the pain and suffering you went through.”

Discussions between the trust and the Masons are set to continue.