A baby boy died after medics missed three chances to spot he was suffering from meningitis.

Nine-month-old Liam Eaves was seen twice by his GP before paramedics arrived.

They dismissed his condition as chickenpox or 'a bad case of nappy rash'.

It was only after his desperate parents called a second ambulance that he was taken to hospital.

Nine-month-old Liam Eaves died in hospital in August 2004 after his symptoms were mistaken for a viral infection and nappy rash

By then it was too late and he died a few hours later.

Yesterday, as they were awarded a five figure out-of-court settlement, Rachael and Dean Eaves warned other parents to seek a second opinion if they believed their child was seriously ill.

Mr Eaves, from the Stoke area of Coventry, said: "I would urge any parents who find themselves in a similar situation to trust their instincts and, if they are not happy with a diagnosis, to insist on a second opinion. 

"This should never have happened  -  we did everything right yet everything went wrong for Liam.

"If meningitis had been diagnosed earlier, he'd still be with us now. Instead, we had to watch him die."

Liam was taken to his GP on August 18, 2004, when he started coughing, turning grey in colour and shivering.

Dr Kuba Julius Ebo diagnosed a suspected ear infection, prescribed a course of penicillin and sent him home.

Liam's parents, Rachael and Dean Eaves accepted an undisclosed five-figure out-of-court settlement for negligence

A few hours later, Liam's condition worsened and he became listless and developed a rash on his left thigh, which did not clear when Mrs Eaves rolled a glass over his skin.

She took him back to Dr Ebo, who assured her the baby was fine.

Later that evening, Liam was violently sick and his parents called NHS Direct, which sent an ambulance.

"Two paramedics wandered in without any equipment and asked for a history of Liam's illness," said Mrs Eaves.

"They said they were reassured by our GP's diagnosis, and one even suggested it might be chickenpox or a bad case of nappy rash.

"They asked if I wanted Liam to go to hospital but also said it was not necessary.

"I was really made to feel I was over-reacting so we reluctantly signed the form to say Liam would not be taken to hospital."

Mr and Mrs Eaves, both 28, put Liam to bed, but when his mother checked on him at 11pm, she saw the rash had spread into big purple patches and she again called NHS Direct.

A second ambulance arrived and their son was rushed to Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry.

He died at 3.45am from meningococcal septicaemia.

The next day, the couple contacted their doctor to tell him their baby had died.

"When I said Liam had died his immediate response was: 'If I sent every child with suspected meningitis to hospital then every hospital ward would be full,'" she said.

"I was shocked."

Mr Eaves added: "Taking legal action was a last resort for us and was not about financial compensation because no amount of money can make up for what happened.

"We felt it was the only way we would gain answers and hopefully to stop mistakes like this from happening again."

Following Liam's death, both the GP and ambulance service admitted negligence.

The couple intend to ask the General Medical Council to investigate Dr Ebo's fitness to practise.