A Diamond Creek couple is requesting the Coroners Court of Victoria hold an inquest into their 19-month-old son's death.
Noah Souvatzis died at the Royal Children's Hospital on December 31, 2021 of meningitis, two days after he was discharged from the Northeast Health Wangaratta hospital.
He presented to Wangaratta hospital after being sick for four or five days while the family holidayed in the state's north-east.
On Tuesday, a statement from his mother and father was read to the court by the family's lawyer, describing a boy who loved to read and dance to the Wiggles.
"Ben and Steph feel he was a special little boy who taught them many valuable lessons in life," the lawyer said.
"He didn't deserve what happened to him that day."
Safer Care Victoria has completed a multi-agency review into the matter, but the court heard the family disagreed with its findings.
'Never again'
A summary of the matter was read before the court on Tuesday and concerns about the level of care Noah received at Wangaratta hospital were discussed.
Concerns about a lack of resources at nearby health services that the toddler visited and the level of communication between those services and Wangaratta hospital were also raised before the court.
"Ben and Steph feel that if you rush a child to an emergency department anywhere in Australia at any time of year you should be provided with treatment that meets a certain level of care," the family's lawyer said.
"Ben and Steph believe that if that care had been provided their little boy would be here today.
"They do seek an inquest … into Noah's death to ensure there's a comprehensive and independent investigation, because they want to make sure that what happened to their family will never again happen to their family."
A spokesperson for Northeast Health Wangaratta said the service's thoughts and condolences continued to be with Noah's family.
"A comprehensive review of this case has occurred and activities to implement the review recommendations are in progress," they said.
"Given this matter is before the courts it would be inappropriate to comment further."
Proceedings have been adjourned.
