Hospital Trust Accepts Full Liability for Two-Year-Old's Preventable Death Following 24 Care Failures

Alder Hey Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has accepted complete liability for a total of 24 distinct care failures that culminated in the death of a young child. Twenty-one-month-old Eleanor Hazel Aldred-Owen passed away in Liverpool at Alder Hey Hospital on October 2, 2023. A coroner determined that her death constituted misadventure, with neglect as a contributing factor.

Eleanor, whose family resides in Mold, Flintshire, had undergone a standard surgical procedure on September 29, 2023, to treat craniosynostosis, a congenital condition impacting the structure of the skull. While the operation itself proceeded largely as scheduled, the breathing tube utilized during the administration of anesthesia was accidentally removed and subsequently reinserted by the anesthetist so the operation could continue.

During the postoperative recovery period, the toddler exhibited an elevated heart rate and required supplemental oxygen. Medical staff initiated the use of AIRVO, a high-flow humidified oxygen system, which was administered without proper documentation or official prescription under the organization’s policies. Following the surgery, the patient developed a collapsed lung. A radiographer omitted the critical step of flagging an abnormal chest X-ray to ward staff, and the attending physician did not examine the radiograph promptly because she was occupied managing another patient in the emergency department.

Before medical personnel diagnosed and addressed the collapsed lung, Eleanor suffered a cardiac arrest, leading to a catastrophic and unsurvivable brain injury. She ultimately died in the arms of her parents, Rachel and Chaz.

Subsequent inquiries uncovered 24 separate failings in her medical management. Among these was the repeated failure to accurately compute her Paediatric Early Warning System score, an omission that would have otherwise triggered a much faster medical assessment and diagnostic chest X-ray.

Eleanor’s parents expressed that they have carried severe trauma and heavy guilt since the incident, noting that they remain permanently altered as individuals and deeply mourn both their daughter and their former lives. They acknowledged the safety improvements subsequently introduced by the hospital, which include two new postoperative procedures named in Eleanor’s honor, though they emphasized that these measures must be strictly maintained to protect future patients.

Family attorney Lynda Reynolds, a partner at Hugh James, described the incident as a devastating tragedy where the parents were severely let down after entrusting the facility with their child’s wellbeing. While the public apology and full accountability from the trust represent significant milestones, the legal representative noted that reaching this point required a lengthy and difficult journey for the grieving relatives.

Sources: BBC News

Aggregated summary. Original: BBC News