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Starving baby rescued after case closed
29 Jul
Summary
- Baby girl was critically ill, weighing less than half expected.
- She suffered severe dehydration and skin breakdown.
- Her case was closed despite concerns about neglect.
A 19-month-old girl was hospitalized in critical condition, suffering from severe emaciation and neglect. The child, weighing only 9.7lb (4.4kg), presented with extreme dehydration, lack of fatty tissue, and "paper-thin skin." Medical assessments revealed hypothermia, low blood sugar, and renal failure due to severely abnormal blood salts.
This critical situation occurred 19 days after social services had closed the child's case. The review highlighted concerns that the mother, who was 17 at the time of birth, had been neglecting her daughter. The mother had also reportedly avoided contact with social workers and health visitors for several weeks prior to the discovery.
Expert reviewer Nicki Walker-Hall noted extensive "skin breakdown" and pressure sores across the baby's back, hips, and bottom. Medics found severe "wasting to the buttocks." The review indicated that without emergency intervention, the child's severe malnutrition and dehydration could have led to death.
