Hospital Admits Full Responsibility for 24 Failures Leading to Toddler's Death

Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has accepted full responsibility for 24 failures that contributed to the death of 21-month-old Eleanor Aldred-Owen. Eleanor died at the hospital on October 2, 2023, with a coroner concluding her death was a result of misadventure, compounded by neglect. Her family, from Mold, Flintshire, described the aftermath as living with "unbearable" guilt and trauma.

Eleanor underwent routine surgery for craniosynostosis, a birth defect affecting the skull, on September 29, 2023. The procedure itself went as planned, though a breathing tube was accidentally removed and subsequently replaced. During her recovery, Eleanor experienced an elevated heart rate and required oxygen. A decision was made to administer AIRVO, a high-flow humidified oxygen therapy, which was not documented or prescribed according to trust guidelines. Post-surgery, Eleanor developed a collapsed lung.

A critical failure occurred when a radiographer did not flag an abnormal chest X-ray. The doctor responsible for reviewing the scan was occupied in the emergency department with another child, delaying immediate assessment. Eleanor suffered a cardiac arrest before the collapsed lung was identified and treated, leading to an unsurvivable brain injury.

An investigation identified 24 specific failures in Eleanor's care. These included repeated failures to correctly calculate her Paediatric Early Warning System score, which would have triggered an earlier medical review and chest X-ray. Her parents stated that Eleanor's death was preventable and should not have occurred.

"As parents, the guilt is unbearable, even though we know Eleanor was failed by the trust and not by us. We are irreversibly changed as people," her family said in a statement. "We don't just constantly grieve for her, we grieve for the people we used to be when our daughter was here."

Eleanor's father, Chaz, expressed that the uncertainty surrounding her death was a key factor driving the family's pursuit of justice. "The real victory is making sure what happened to Eleanor doesn't happen to anyone else. No other family or child will have to go through what we have," he stated. He noted that while he and his wife suspected neglect, they underestimated the extent of the failures, relying on information provided by the hospital.

Lynda Reynolds, the family's solicitor, described the case as "unimaginably tragic," emphasizing that Eleanor's parents entrusted their daughter's care to Alder Hey and were let down. She highlighted that the trust's acceptance of responsibility and public apology are significant but follow a prolonged and painful period for the family. Reynolds expressed hope that the implemented changes would ensure safer care for other children.

Chaz Aldred-Owen mentioned that two post-operative procedures at Alder Hey have been named in Eleanor's honor. He views these changes and the hospital's improvements as Eleanor's legacy, something he and his wife can be proud of, despite the circumstances.