DEVASTATED dad Lee Freeman- Skinner wants an investigation after being told a doctor could not see his baby son hours before he died of meningitis.

Dad Lee and mum Shaunna Bent were so worried about their son Jaydon they dialled 999 for an ambulance from outside the Cinderford surgery.

But although paramedics arrived within eight minutes they could not save the five-month-old baby boy who later died of meningococcal septicaemia.

Now the couple want to know why they were told no doctor was available and advised to leave their number so someone could call them back.

The couple say they became concerned about little Jaydon on January 25 because he was sick and whimpering.

They walked more than a mile from Littledean to Dockham Road Surgery in Cinderford to try to see a GP.

They say they were told no doctor was available but they could leave a contact number.

But after talking to Lee's sister Lana, 25, outside the surgery, the couple decided Jaydon could not wait for medical attention and called an ambulance on her mobile.

A doctor then came outside the surgery to examine Jaydon. Paramedics rushed Jaydon to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital but he died of meningitis within hours of arriving.

"He was really strong and kept fighting but in the end they said it was best to let him go," said 19-year-old Shaunna.

Lee says what happened to them raises many questions and added: "I'm not sure if anything would have made any difference but now I'll never know.

"The surgery rang while were in hospital to ask how he was getting on and I just said he'd passed away and put the phone down. I did not know what to say to them.

"We want people to know what happened to us so it does not happen again."

The couple cannot bear to go back to the Littledean house where they enjoyed such a happy first Christmas with Jaydon.

"I was so chuffed when he was born," said Shaunna. "He was a lovely bubbly baby who was always laughing. He was so happy that he used to wake up smiling."

They say they are planning to make an official complaint after Jaydon's funeral.

Lead doctor Dr Simon Silver said: "Meningococcal septicaemia is an absolutely devastating illness. Prompt treatment as in this case can sometimes be powerless.

"This must surely turn the parents' life upside down and we hope they do not suffer too much in their grief. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to them."

A spokesman for NHS Gloucestershire said: "A child's death is always a terrible tragedy and our hearts go out to the family concerned. We recognise that this must be an extremely distressing time for them.

"We have a robust complaints process in place and we would urge the family to make contact with us so we can look in to the individual circumstances of this case."