NO disciplinary action is to be taken against any of the NHS staff whose failings ended with the death of Newton Abbot boy Sam Morrish.

Managers have said that would be 'not be appropriate' and that efforts were being concentrated on improving services and 'joined up conversations' between health teams.

Three-year-old Sam died in December 2010 after clinical staff in four separate organisations failed to diagnose or then treat his sepsis. The condition is triggered by infection and results in the body's immune system setting off a series of reactions including widespread inflammation, swelling and blood clotting. His death came just 36 hours after first seeing a GP at Cricketfield Surgery and his case being handled by NHS Direct, Devon Doctors, the Newton Abbot Treatment Centre and Torbay Hospital.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman who investigated the tragedy concluded that Sam's death could have been avoided and that two earlier investigations by medical staff had failed to explain what went wrong.

MP Anne Marie Morris has pledged to raise the matter at 'the highest levels' within government.

The full story can be read in Friday's Mid-Devon Advertiser.