The baby death cover-up that lasted 19 years
Doctor condemns ‘persistently dishonest’ NHS staff behind...
NHS staff and health workers fabricated evidence and buried the truth about the death of a disabled baby during a cover-up spanning almost 20 years, a major inquiry has found.
A damning report into the case of Elizabeth Dixon has even called for the police to be investigated for failing to detect obvious errors in her care.
Elizabeth died ten days before her first birthday in 2001 when an agency nurse failed to remove a blocked breathing tube.
Her parents, Graeme and Anne, yesterday called for ‘ robust measures’ to stop health service cover-ups after spending almost two decades fighting for the truth.
‘We would like cover-ups to stop right now,’ they said and called for trainee doctors and nurses to be given reassurances they can tell the truth without fear of career repercussions.
Dr Bill Kirkup, who led the inquiry, admonished health workers for missing opportunities to prevent Elizabeth’s disability and eventual death.
He said: ‘A cover-up began on the day that she died. There were failures of care by every organisation that looked after her, none of which was admitted at the time, nor properly investigated then or later.’
Dr Kirkup, a former assistant chief medical officer for England, said that some of those responsible had been ‘ persistently dishonest’. His investigation was ordered by Jeremy Hunt, health secretary in 2015.
Elizabeth was born prematurely at 32 weeks on December 14, 2000 at Frimley Park Hospital, in Surrey, and was later diagnosed with a non-fatal form of the rare cancer neuroblastoma. Staff failed to diagnose or treat high blood pressure caused by the condition which led to brain damage. She then needed permanent care.
Before being sent home, the NHS chose care agency Primecare to look after Elizabeth, telling the Dixons specialist nurses would be used. But only days after she returned home after months in hospital, an under- qualified agency nurse, Joyce Aburime, failed to keep the tracheostomy tube used by Elizabeth clear and she died of asphyxiation. Yesterday’s report said that the nurse had probably fallen asleep.
Health minister Nadine Dorries, who is responsible for patient safety, yesterday apologised to Elizabeth’s parents for the ‘harrowing and shocking series of mistakes’. She said: ‘This report shines a light on a culture of denial and cover-up 20 years ago. I will not hesitate to expose this sort of behaviour whenever it appears today.’
But Mr and Mrs Dixon, from Church Crookham, Hampshire, said the minister was wrong to suggest that the events were historic. Mrs Dixon, 57, said: ‘This is the culture we have had throughout. This is not 20 years ago, this is now.’
The Dixons say they have been ‘really upset’ by the response of
Frimley Health NHS Foundation, the trust responsible for Elizabeth’s care.
In his report, Dr Kirkup called for the case to be referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.
After officials failed to carry out a post-mortem examination, healthcare investigation or inquest into Elizabeth’s death, the Dixons went to Hampshire police in 2005. But the force dropped its investigation after it was decided there was no realistic prospect of conviction of manslaughter against Aburime and a manager at a nursing agency.
Dr Kirkup’s report said that ‘significant concerns over the conduct and veracity of individuals’ would have emerged if police had persisted. He also lashed out at some of those involved for failing to give evidence to his inquiry.
Mr Hunt stepped in after a series of official investigations had been abandoned.
Dr Timothy Ho, medical director at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘We welcome the publication of this report and offer our heartfelt apologies to Elizabeth’s family.’
‘Culture of denial’