Blackpool Victoria Hospital missed opportunities to intervene in the abuse of two toddlers, including a 13-month-old boy who was murdered by his adoptive father, it has emerged. These failures occurred within a day of each other and have prompted demands for a wider inquiry into safeguarding practices.
Preston Davey was taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital three times in the weeks before his death on July 27, 2023. Despite presenting with suspicious bruises and a broken elbow, and being seen by multiple professionals including police, concerns were not flagged. His adoptive father, teacher Jamie Varley, 37, was later sentenced to life in prison for sexually abusing and murdering the infant. Varley's partner, John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32, received a 25-year sentence for allowing Preston's death and sexual assault.
Just a day before Preston's third hospital visit, on June 29, 2023, another toddler, two-year-old Damion Russell, was taken to the same hospital following a ‘febrile convulsion’. Medics did not question Damion’s father, Daniel Hardcastle, about an old bruise on his forehead. A safeguarding review later found it would have been expected practice for A&E staff to inquire about the injury. Weeks later, Damion was murdered by Hardcastle, 31, in a violent attack. A post-mortem revealed Damion’s body was covered in injuries, including an adult bite mark.
Hardcastle was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years in July 2024 for his son's murder. A review into Damion’s death noted the failure to inquire about the bruise as the only instance where practitioners did not follow expected practice. The review identified Hardcastle’s loss of familial support and failure to disclose his struggles as central issues leading to his son's abuse.
Blackpool South MP Chris Webb stated that it was "deeply concerning" that safeguarding opportunities related to both boys appeared to have been missed by the hospital within such a short timeframe. He is campaigning for a public inquiry into Preston's death, emphasizing the need to understand why opportunities to protect these children were missed and whether systemic failures played a role.
The Government has pledged to support a safeguarding review of Preston's death and has sent independent experts to examine Oldham Council, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and the regional adoption agency.
Blackpool Victoria Hospital has faced scrutiny in recent years, including a Daily Mail investigation that highlighted six medical staff being imprisoned for serious offenses over a two-year period. The hospital’s emergency department also received damning inspection reports, with claims of bullying and harassment.
Maggie Oldham, Chief Executive at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, acknowledged the tragic nature of Damion Russell's case and stated that the trust fully accepted the review's findings. While the review made no specific recommendations regarding Damion's treatment at the hospital, Oldham noted that work was already underway to strengthen practices, including ensuring appropriate examinations, staff confidence in questioning, and escalation of concerns in line with safeguarding processes. The trust aims to reassure families that staff will inquire about any identified injuries, whether recent or old, and conduct full examinations for babies not yet walking independently.