The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has said it is considering a prosecution following the death of a 13-year-old girl at Kettering General Hospital.

Chloe Longster, from Market Harborough in Leicestershire, died of pneumonia and sepsis in November 2022, a day after being admitted to Skylark Children’s Ward.

A coroner ruled that her death was caused by negligence, and the hospital admitted it had failed to give Chloe the care she deserved.

Her mother, Louise Longster, said in response to the health regulator’s statement: “We all have a duty to protect children from harm and this continued failure to ensure basic safety has been repeated too often. It has to stop.”

A CQC spokesman said: “We are currently making inquiries to establish whether there is reasonable suspicion that an offense has been committed.”

They added that its inquiries are ongoing and that it will “report more” as soon as it is able.

Chloe, who had no serious health problems, was admitted to the children’s ward with severe chest pains and flu-like symptoms.

During the inquest into her death, evidence was heard that checks that could have alerted doctors to sepsis were not carried out, and painkillers and antibiotic treatment were delayed.

Mrs Longster told the hearing her daughter was in so much pain she asked if she was “going to die”.

Giving her conclusion at Northampton Coroner’s Court on October 11, Assistant Coroner Sophie Lomas said Chloe would have survived if she had received appropriate treatment earlier.

The CQC can use its prosecution powers organizations or individuals under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009 without the police needing to do so.

The law states that they must file a criminal prosecution within three years of the date of the alleged crime.

The CQC said: “The findings of the investigation and any subsequent report received from the coroner will be fully considered as part of our investigation and will be used to inform any decision we make.”

It said the health and wellbeing of people using services was its priority, adding: “If we are not satisfied that people are receiving safe care, we will not hesitate to take action under our regulatory powers.”

Chloe’s parents Louise and Dave Longster referred to the unit’s previous failures, saying: “Each time the hospital says lessons have been learned and action plans have been implemented.

“Clearly these are completely insufficient as it is an ongoing theme. There must be real accountability.”

The BBC has also seen a letter written to the CQC by Corby and East Northamptonshire MP Lee Barron.

In it, he outlined his concerns about General Kettering.

The letter said that during Chloe’s inquest, assistant coroner Sophie Lomas “found some of the evidence given by medical staff ‘completely unconvincing'”.

“He was considering contacting the regulatory bodies, but I understand that this will not happen following assurances from hospital management that action has already been taken,” Mr Barron said in the letter.

“Frustratingly at Chloe’s inquest, there was a repeat of similar failings in Jorge. (Jorge Stanton-Watts) investigation more than eight years ago.

“Many of my constituents are now wondering how many more children will die before action is taken to improve services and families can have confidence in the care they receive.”

Mr Barron asked the CQC what steps would be taken to act on the findings.

The coroner’s office has been contacted for comment.

Julie Hogg, group head nurse for University Hospitals Northamptonshire, said: “We continue to offer our deepest condolences to Chloe’s family for their loss and for not being given the care she deserved.

“We have accepted the coroner’s conclusions at Chloe’s inquest and, as an organization committed to learning from our mistakes, we are appropriately supporting CQC’s ongoing investigations.”

Thirty-two suppliers and individuals were prosecuted by the CQC between May 2023 and May 2024.

The last NHS general hospital to be prosecuted was University Hospitals Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust in March 2023 for failings in its maternity services.