Toby Greenacre diagnosed Kyran Day with gastroenteritis at Nowra’s Shoalhaven Hospital on October 19, 2013, but the baby died three days later in Sydney Children’s Hospital of hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, a condition in which the brain does not receive enough oxygen.

Dr Greenacre said in a statement to Kyran’s emotional parents that he was sorry they had to witness the child’s suffering and that Kyran ‘‘will not be forgotten by any of us who cared for him in his brief life’’.

‘‘You are not alone in your grief,’’ Dr Greenacre said while giving evidence at the Sydney inquest into his death on Wednesday.

‘‘Kyran has been and will continue to be in my mind every day. I will never reconcile to his death.’’

He told Kyran’s parents, Naomi and Grant Day, that he believed his death had brought about improvements in the health system and encouraged them not to give up their fight for answers.

‘‘You (Kyran) will not be forgotten and your life has had a profound and lasting effect on me,’’ Dr Greenacre said.

Naomi Day told the inquest on Tuesday that her son was unusually subdued and couldn’t hold his head up two days before he died.

An inquiry earlier this year by the Professional Standards Committee officially cautioned Dr Greenacre and has forced him to complete an Advanced Pediatric Life Support course.

His colleague at Shoalhaven Hospital, Dr Richard Allen, also examined Kyran, who at the time was suffering dehydration and constant vomiting, on two occasions.

He told the inquest on Wednesday that even upon reflection, he did not believe the correct diagnosis would have been made.

AAP