Family criticise Alder Hey after medics didn’t realise child caught E.coli

November 16, 2016

Padraig Henry was admitted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool
He was born at 28 weeks and needed an operation to repair his bowel
Doctors knew that the hospital was fighting a virulent strain of the deadly bug, but kept his parents Colin Henry, 44, and Karen Bailey, 40, in the dark
When E.coli was diagnosed, it was too late, and Padraig died two days later

Liz Hull for the Daily Mail

Published:
21:05 EST, 15 November 2016

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Updated:
00:32 EST, 16 November 2016

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A premature baby caught E.coli and died following an operation after doctors failed to tell his parents the hospital was in the grip of a deadly outbreak.

Padraig Henry was admitted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool Padraig Henry was admitted to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.

Doctors knew the hospital was fighting a virulent strain of the bug, but kept his parents Colin Henry, 44, and Karen Bailey, 40, in the dark and decided to go ahead with the surgery regardless.

Colin Henry (pictured left with his son) has criticised Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool after doctors failed to warn him that they were fighting a virulent strain of E.coli when his son Padraig (pictured right) went in for an operation

Although the operation went well, Padraig contracted E.coli soon afterwards. A catalogue of blunders meant medics failed to realise he had been infected and, as a consequence, treatment with the correct antibiotics was delayed.

By the time it was diagnosed, it was too late, and Padraig died two days later.

Last night Mr Henry criticised the hospital, saying: ‘We were deeply distraught to find out our son’s life had been cut short by blunders and failings in care. If we had known the hospital was experiencing an E.coli outbreak we would never have allowed him to have surgery on that day.’

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Padraig was born at 28 weeks in April 2013 weighing just 2.5lbs and needed an operation to repair a hole in his bowel aged just four days. Surgeons also performed a split ileostomy – a process where they bring the small intestine out of the body to ease feeding and take away waste.

Although initially poorly, Padraig improved and at 11 weeks he was deemed well enough to have the ileostomy reversed.

He was due to have the operation on July 4, but at that time there was a case of E.coli on the neo-natal surgery unit. Crucially, Padraig’s parents were never told.

Three days after the operation Padraig developed signs of an infection and a swab was taken, but it was lost and never sent for analysis.

Padraig was born at 28 weeks in April 2013 weighing just 2.5lbs and although an operation on his bowel went well, he contracted E.coli soon afterward

Three days after the operation Padraig developed signs of an infection and a swab was taken, but it was lost and never sent for analysis

When he failed to respond to antibiotics the following day more tests were done, but again these were never received by the lab.

A third opportunity after a recommended change in his antibiotics was not implemented. He eventually received the correct treatment for the E.coli on July 10 but died two days later.

After a three-year legal battle the hospital yesterday apologised to Mr Henry and Miss Bailey, who now live in Northern Ireland. They have also been awarded £17,500 in compensation.

When he failed to respond to antibiotics more tests were done, but these too were never received by the lab at the hospital. He eventually received the correct treatment for the E.coli on July 10 but died two days later

Christian Beadell, a clinical negligence specialist at Fletchers Solicitors, said: ‘The hospital failed in its duty of care and the family is absolutely determined that lessons should be learned so that no one else suffers the same tragedy.’

Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust apologised to the family said: ‘Lessons have been learned and failings addressed to ensure this does not happen again.’