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Child Died of Dehydration Amidst Care Concerns
21 Jan
Summary
- Five-year-old died from severe dehydration due to insufficient fluid intake.
- Autism and food disorder were contributing factors to the boy's death.
- Coroner flagged inadequate information provided to foster parents.
A five-year-old boy, Joshua Lee Allcock, died on January 3, 2023, from severe dehydration. Senior Coroner Zafar Siddique expressed concerns that Joshua, who had a food intake disorder and suspected autism, was not referred to specialists experienced with the condition.
Joshua, who was placed with foster parents on December 21, 2022, reportedly received inadequate information about his dietary needs. He was reluctant to consume alternatives to milk, leading to his severe dehydration.
By December 29, Joshua was hospitalized and later transferred to Birmingham Children's Hospital, where his condition declined rapidly. The coroner noted that without a formal autism diagnosis, there was no referral to dieticians familiar with the link between autism and ARFID.
Expert evidence suggested Joshua's death was not isolated, with another autistic child dying in similar circumstances. The coroner has issued a report to Walsall Council and NHS trusts, urging a review of their protocols for assessing children with complex needs.
