Doctors are to answer claims of medical negligence in the case of nine-year-old Lexie McConnell - nearly seven years after her death.

A High Court hearing has been set for July for Oxfordshire Health Authority to explain why Lexie died following treatment for a routine eye infection in November 1992.

It follows a seven-year campaign by her parents Art and Victoria McConnell for a public inquiry into their daughter's death.

The health authority has said it intends to defend the treatment given to Lexie. Mr McConnell, of East St Helen Street, Abingdon, said: "I am delighted that a date has finally been set - but it has been an incredible struggle to get this far.

"We are hoping there will be an acknowledgement of liability from the health authority. A public hearing is much more important to us than any damages we might receive."

Mr and Mrs McConnell are claiming medical negligence prior to Lexie's death at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, and post-traumatic stress afterwards. Lexie was given steroids after she was hit by a ball at school. She died several weeks later from chicken pox after the drug destroyed her immune system.

Anna Truelove, legal services officer for Oxfordshire Health Authority, said : "It was a rare and tragic misfortune, but we believe Lexie's treatment was in accordance with the highest standards of medical practice at the time."

If the McConnells' case reaches court, it will be the first involving a health authority and an NHS medicine since the thalidomide tragedy 30 years ago.

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Story date: Saturday 13 March

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