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Hospital Admits 24 Failures in Toddler's Death
1 Nov
Summary
- A hospital trust admitted 24 failures led to a toddler's death.
- The toddler died from misadventure, contributed to by neglect.
- A radiographer failed to flag an abnormal chest X-ray.
Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has accepted full responsibility for 24 failures contributing to the death of 21-month-old Eleanor Hazel Aldred-Owen on October 2, 2023. The toddler passed away at the Liverpool hospital following routine surgery for a skull defect.
An investigation revealed a series of critical errors, including a failure to flag an abnormal chest X-ray and miscalculations of her early warning scores. These oversights delayed crucial medical reviews and treatment.
Eleanor suffered a cardiac arrest and unsurvivable brain injury. The coroner determined her death was a result of misadventure, compounded by neglect, a conclusion that has caused profound trauma for her parents.
The hospital trust has expressed deep sorrow for failing Eleanor and her family, stating her death "should not have happened." They have implemented new procedures, including a clear escalation process for abnormal radiology findings, in Eleanor's memory.
