The family of two-year-old Hudson Cole Perrins has reached a confidential settlement with the NHS after the young boy tragically died from sepsis following a misdiagnosis. In June 2024, Hudson was brought to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton by his father after complaining of stomach pain. Medical staff diagnosed him with constipation and discharged him after administering suppositories and an enema.
However, four days later Hudson passed away at Birmingham Children’s Hospital due to multiple organ failure caused by sepsis, which resulted from a urinary tract infection. After a prolonged two-year pursuit for justice, Hudson’s mother, Kayleigh Taundry, secured a settlement with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which acknowledged shortcomings in his care.
Kayleigh, a former nurse at the Trust for 18 years, left her role in April after expressing that the Trust had “failed her son.” She said: “It’s devastating to think that on top of everything else, Hudson was left in pain in his last few days when it didn’t need to happen. Nothing will bring Hudson back, but it means a great deal to finally have it accepted that he should have been given pain relief and that his catheter should have been checked properly.
READ MORE: Birmingham’s Popular Artisan Market Returns for Autumn Edition 2026
READ MORE: Timothy Taylor Faces Backlash Over Landlord Ale Logo Redesign
“I hope this settlement, and the failures it has brought to light, mean lessons are genuinely learned so another family doesn’t have to go through what we have.”
Kayleigh emphasised she does not blame Hudson’s father for the initial hospital visit but criticised the hospital staff for insufficient efforts to contact her, despite her status as Hudson’s next of kin. Hudson had existing health issues including bladder and kidney complications and a cardiac condition.
She alleged that medical staff focused on the “obvious” diagnosis of constipation without adequately considering other possibilities, despite there being limited evidence for constipation. Kayleigh believes Hudson’s death might have been prevented if he had received proper pain relief and more thorough examination.
An inquest held in December 2024 determined that Hudson died from natural causes. However, Black Country Coroner Kelly Dixon heard that the Trust failed to follow its own procedures during Hudson’s initial assessment in the accident and emergency department.
Kayleigh reflected on her son’s life: “He was one month from turning three. He was cheeky and boisterous, but really loving as well. He really loved a cuddle and was really affectionate. He was our baby. Hudson was born with a heart defect and underwent surgery at seven months old. We thought that would be the worst hurdle he would have to overcome.
“He was finally turning a corner. He was finally catching up, he was finally starting to develop alongside his peers, he was finally starting to talk and we just didn’t expect this at all. We are all still in denial. I can’t put it into words - he was a beautiful boy.”
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust denied that its initial diagnosis and decision not to conduct further investigations constituted a breach of duty. It accepted that Hudson should have received pain relief earlier and that staff should have monitored the fluid output in his catheter bag, although it did not accept that these failures directly caused his death.
Michael Portman-Hann, representing the family via law firm FBC Manby Bowdler, commented: “While the Trust maintains these failures didn’t affect the eventual outcome for Hudson, his family will always be left wondering whether he suffered more than he should have in his final days, and that is something no parent should have to carry.”
The Trust declined further comment due to the ongoing nature of the claim.