THE tragedy of Newton Abbot toddler Sam Morrish has been described as 'shocking and saddening' by Prime Minister David Cameron.
The case of the NHS failings that let to the three-year-old's death from sepsis in December 2010 was raised in parliament by Newton Abbot MP Anne-Marie Morris at Prime Minister's Question Time today.
Mr Cameron said she was 'right to raise this tragic case'.
He said: "All our thoughts should be with Sam's parents, who I know have had a meeting with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
"It is absolutely shocking and saddening, as you say, to see a whole succession of health services fail this family and anyone who has lost a child that young knows how harrowing and dreadful this experience is.
"We must learn the lessons from this case, make sure they are acted on, make sure they can't happen again and just last week we launched a major safety campaign to prevent these sorts of tragic and sadly avoidable deaths."
Sam Morrish died from a treatable condition in December 2010 following a catalogue of errors by four separate health service organisations, the Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) said.
His family said that the complaints system was also flawed.
Ms Morris told the house: "You will be aware of the tragic death of my three-year-old constituent Sam Morrish from sepsis while under NHS care.
"He was failed by his GPs, out-of-hours services, the hospital, the primary care trust and the ombudsman.
"This must not happen again.
"Will you ensure that the ombudsman's recommendations are implemented in full and that the system of review within the NHS and by the ombudsman are radically overhauled to deliver proper transparency and accountability in a timely way? This family waited two years for justice."
She said afterwards: "The Prime Minister agreed that he would look into this case and would ensure that the NHS was detailed to learn the necessary lessons.
"I do not want another family to suffer the same needless tragedy as affected my constituents the Morrish's."
She said that the next step is a sepsis awareness day on September 2.
