Hospital 'Deeply Sorry' Over Missed Chances To Save Girl As Inquest Finds 'Gross Neglect'

'NO WORDS FROM US WILL EASE PAIN FOR ELEANOR'S PARENTS AND FAMILY... WE ARE HEARTBROKEN THAT WE FAILED THEM AND FAILED ELEANOR'

- MEGAN BANNER

A one-year-old girl died as a result of gross neglect by Alder Hey, a coroner has ruled. Eleanor Aldred-Owen, from Mold, was diagnosed with bicoronal craniosynostosis when she was 12 weeks old.

Her diagnosis meant the sutures, the fibrous tissue joints that connect the bones of the skull, had fused too early to allow for normal growth and she needed surgery to reduce the risk of pressure on her brain.

An inquest into Eleanor's death at Gerard Majella Coroner's Courthouse in Liverpool on Wednesday, December 18, heard how on September 29, last year, Eleanor attended Alder Hey Children's Hospital for surgery, however she suffered complications and the hospital 'missed opportunities' to treat them.

Alder Hey has apologised to the family and says it's 'heartbroken' that it failed them and failed Eleanor. It has also said it's committed to ensuring that nothing like this happens again.

Assistant Coroner Helen Rimmer told the inquest on Wednesday how a tube was dislodged during Eleanor's bicoronal craniosynostosis surgery and she went into tachycardia (a very fast heart rate over 100 beats per minute) as a result. Eleanor was transferred to recovery following the operation, despite concerns being raised by her parents to hospital staff.

Her parents, Rachel and Chaz Aldred-Owen, had noticed their daughter's breathing was not 'normal' following the surgery and took a video to show staff. Eleanor was also heard 'grunting,' which can be a symptom of an airway problem or a life threatening illness. The court heard how this was a missed opportunity for a full medical review by doctors.