Why did our baby die?

Blackburn parents Keira McGeough and Wayne Knight also revealed that they are preparing to take legal action if medical staff are found to be at fault.

Merseyside Police have been notified of the death of 18-month-old Jake McGeough, who died three days after being admitted to the hospital, and are working with health bosses to establish what happened. The hospital is conducting its own internal inquiry.

A post-mortem examination has been held although no cause of death has yet been established. The Liverpool coroner Andre Rebello has been informed and an inquest may be opened.

No date has been given for the funeral until all inquiries have been made, which could take weeks.

A health watchdog today called for all the details of the case to be made available to the family as soon as possible.

Jake died in the Liverpool hospital in the early hours of July 8, days after being transferred from Queens Park Hospital, in Blackburn, where the family said he was taken for tests on what they thought was a chest infection. Keira, 23, and Wayne, of Leicester Road, said the toddler was "coughing and sniffing" on the Thursday before his death, although Keira put it down the hot weather. She said when his feet started to swell she called out her GP, who suggested he be taken to hospital.

She said after an initial check-up, Jake was taken by ambulance to Alder Hey Children's Hospital.

Jake's parents said he was taken to the intensive care unit. Wayne and Keira said they returned home to see to their three other young children Nicole, eight, Wayne, five, and four-year-old Danielle.

But Keira said she returned and spent the next two days in the special living quarters for parents at the hospital. She said when Jake died in the early hours of Sunday his family were with him.

She said: "My sister and Jake's grandmother had come over with Wayne. He died at 2.40am. The family was shocked. It still hasn't sunk in with us yet, we are all devastated. His sisters don't really understand what is going on but his brother Wayne knows he has gone to heaven."

Keira said: "It is upsetting that we cannot arrange his funeral. We can not lay him to rest. We are so angry that he has died, he was doted on by everyone. He was a big softie." Wendy Natale, chief officer of the Liverpool Eastern Community Health Council, said: "The most important people who should get satisfaction is the family. It is important that they understand what happened.

"If anything has gone wrong they need to know what is going to be put in place to make sure it doesn't happen again."

A spokesman for the Royal Liverpool Children's NHS Trust refused to discuss details of the incident or whether any staff had been suspended and would only say: "The Trust can confirm that the death of a child at Alder Hey has been referred to HM coroner. The hospital is also conducting its own internal inquiry. For reasons of patient confidentiality we are unable to comment further."

A spokesman for Merseyside Police added: "We have been notified of the death of an 18-month-old child and we are liaising closely with the hospital concerned." Kieran O'Connor, of Farley's solicitors, Blackburn, has taken up the case on behalf of the family. He said: "We have been instructed by the family to seek a detailed explanation from the hospital into the tragic circumstances of Jake's death and if appropriate seek damages on their behalf."

Andr Rebello, Liverpool coroner, said: "On Sunday 8th July 2001 the death of an 18 month old boy was reported to me by a Consultant in Paediatric Intensive care at the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital -- Alder Hey. I am investigating the means by which he came by his medical cause of death.

"On Tuesday July 10, a post mortem examination took place to determine the medical cause of death. The cause of death has not as yet been determined as further tests are needed. If the death is unnatural or an inquest is otherwise indicated an inquest would be opened. The tests that are necessary could take several weeks."