Senin, 30 April 2012

I was so desperate to help my dying baby I gave £100 bribe to a nurse: Mother begged staff to transfer daughter to intensive care before she died of heart failure

I was so desperate to help my dying baby I gave £100 bribe to a nurse: Mother begged staff to transfer daughter to intensive care before she died of heart failure

  • One-year-old Hayley was 'overlooked and neglected' 
  • Doctors were 'arrogant and unprofessional'
  • Parents were repeatedly told there was 'nothing to worry about'

By Andy Dolan

PUBLISHED: 16:40 EST, 30 April 2012 | UPDATED: 21:36 EST, 30 April 2012

Paula Stevenson, seen here with a picture of her baby girl Hayley, describe her daughter's treatment at Birmingham Children's Hospital as 'brutal'

Paula Stevenson, seen here with a picture of her baby girl Hayley, describe her daughter's treatment at Birmingham Children's Hospital as 'brutal'

A mother driven to despair as her baby daughter lay dying in hospital bribed a nurse with a £100 gift voucher in the hope of improving her care.

Hayley Fullerton died of heart failure within a month of her first birthday after doctors ignored Paula Stevenson’s pleas to transfer the little girl to an intensive care unit.

In the weeks leading up to Hayley’s death, Miss Stevenson became so concerned about the ‘brutal’ care her daughter was receiving that she tried to bribe one nurse to stop her daughter being ‘overlooked and neglected’.

Yesterday, the 40-year-old told an inquest: ‘I was out of my mind with worry and was so upset. The doctors were arrogant and unprofessional.

‘I tried to express my concern to the nurses, I even bought a £100 gift voucher in an attempt to bribe one of them.

‘I hoped the other nurses would hear about it and look after Hayley in the hope they would get one too. But no thing worked.’

Hayley had been diagnosed with a hole in the heart before she was born, and was admitted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for corrective surgery when she was ten months old.

Miss Stevenson said that while the operation was a success, complications arose during Hayley’s recovery after doctors inserted the wrong size tube into her lung, causing it to collapse.

The inquest heard Hayley’s parents became increasingly concerned that their only child was struggling to breathe and looked ‘puffy’ â€" but were repeatedly told by medics that there was nothing to worry about.

When her lung collapsed for a second time, Hayley was put in an isolation ward, despite Miss Stevenson and husband Bobby Fullerton begging doctors to transfer her to intensive care.

The couple and Hayley’s grandparents, Sylvia and Edward Stevenson, kept a vigil at her bedside, but Hayley died in November 2009 â€" four weeks after the corrective surgery.

One-year-old Hayley Fullerton's treatment at Birmingham Children's Hospital was described by her mother as 'brutal' Undated family handout photo of Hayley Fullerton.

Hayley Fullerton was born with a hole in her heart, and had to undergo surgery aged 10-months-old to correct it

Undated family handout photo of Hayley Fullerton. Undated family handout photo of Hayley Fullerton.

It was during the recovery from the surgery when complications arose, ultimately leading to her tragic death

A report by the hospital concluded that there had been failings in the little girl’s care and said Hayley may have survived if there had not been.

Miss Stevenson, who kept her maiden name after marrying Mr Fullerton, said that the more she complained about her daughter’s treatment, the worse it seemed to become.

She added: ‘All Hayley did was sleep. What was happening to her was destroying me.

‘Hayley’s experience at Birmingham Children’s Hospital can only be described as brutal.’

Miss Stevenson and Mr Fullerton live in Australia, but Hayley was born in Northern Ireland, where Miss Stevenson grew up, so that her family could be around her. The couple took her to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for surgery because it is a major centre of paediatric cardiac care.

The inquest continues.

Paula Stevenson told an inquest her one-year-old daughter was overlooked and neglected at the hospital

Paula Stevenson told an inquest her one-year-old daughter was overlooked and neglected at the hospital

Hayley Fullerton with her grandfather Edward Stevenson. Her grandparents helped keep a vigil at her bedside for four weeks when she was in the hospital Proud grandmother Sylvia Stevenson holding little Hayley. They were repeatedly told by medics there was nothing to worry about

Hayley Fullerton with her grandparents, Edward and Sylvia Stevenson, both helped keep a bedside vigil for the four weeks Hayley spent in hospital before her death


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- bill, liverpool, 30/4/2012 23:31 - - You know what, Bill? You're right. And the stuff that isn't depressing is just trivia about so-called celebs.

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What a tragedy. And to think this is the kind of system Pres. Obama wants to force on the citizens of the United States. God help us - vote Obama out in November.

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Its sad when any child dies, but the feel I get from this article is 'Pushy Parent' syndrome. Looking for someone to blame..... RIP little one - Helen Haines, Herts, UK, 12/04/30 22:28 I understand what your saying and dont think you deserve the red cards. But in the same situation I would probably do the same, its sad all round.

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This brought a tear to my eye. Although nothing can bring back their daughter, I hope the arrogant doctors learn a lesson and the family are compensated for their loss. Our prayers for strength are with them.

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THIS IS THE MOST DEPRESSING STORY, FROM THE MOST DEPRESSING PAPER IN THE WORLD,WITH LITTLE WORLD NEWS JUST LOTS OF TRAGEDY , NO MORE FOR ME, - bill, liverpool, 30/04/2012 22:31 Are you for real?.... What newspaper, news channel or news website have you ever read or watched where the news reported was a laugh a minute? Perhaps go in to the world news, health or money section if you want more international news. This is in the UK section by the way... But doubt there would be many more comedic or light hearted articles in the other sections. News is for grown ups, and is reported for grown ups.

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How tragic, this should never happen. Im so sorry for all the familys loss. What a painful experience. It amazes me that some people in the medical/caring professions seem to be anything but caring. Sweet dreams angel xx

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Disgusting. Doctors are so sure of themselves. The more you question their first (and only) opinion, the worse their attitude gets, as if they are paying us back for daring to challenge them. It's terrible the mum selected this hospital purposely because of its reputation. RIP, baby Hayley.

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So sad for this family - what an adorable little girl. Always question medical people, mothers/fathers often instinctively know when something is wrong

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And pregnant women come over th the U.K. knowing that they will get the best treatment for free. I also suspect that these free loaders may well know in advance that there is something wrong with their unborn so they just come the 'free' Britain, where the Dr's have to do something in case of 'reprisals' where the U.K. taxpayer has to suffer!.That poor woman. And people wonder why there is so much 'hatred' about all of the 'freeloaders' Charity begins at home. 'When will they ever learn'?

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So very very sad. Rest in peace beautiful angel x

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