Off The Record
3-Year-Old Girl Died Three Months After Doctors “Missed Opportunities” To Find A Rare Illness In Her And Sent Her Home From A&E
After a three-day inquest concluded, the parents of a three-year-old daughter who passed away in a Blackpool hospital say they are pursuing a case of medical negligence.
The inquest into Ryleigh Hillcoat Bee’s death at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in November 2021 concluded that complications from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition, were the cause of her death.
In a narrative conclusion, Blackpool and Fylde coroner Alan Wilson pointed out that the hospital had lost chances to examine Ryleigh’s limited mobility before to releasing her three months prior to her passing.
He pointed out that this might have raised awareness that a neuromuscular issue might be the cause of her declining physical condition.
On August 9, 2021, Ryleigh was admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, the same facility where she was born three years prior.
She was floppy and lethargic. The results of her blood tests were extremely odd.
According to one of her test results, Ryleigh’s blood has 300,000 creatine kinase (CK), which is more than 2,000 times the typical range of 100 to 140.
In addition, she showed other warning signs, such as severe limb weakness and black urine. Five days later, she was released without any additional inquiries or therapy recommendations given to her parents.
Ryleigh’s parents, Andrew Hillcoat, 40, an accountant, and Caroline Bee, 44, a civil servant, have stated that they intend to sue Blackpool Victoria Hospital for medical malpractice.
Representing Ryleigh’s parents Diane Rostron, medical negligence solicitor, said: “Today’s finding is deeply upsetting for Ryleigh’s parents, Andrew and Caroline.”
“Ryleigh was still significantly unwell when she was discharged from hospital, displaying unambiguous symptoms of rhabdomyolysis. “
“This is a potentially fatal condition if it is not treated appropriately, but it is treatable with a high chance of survival, according to our independent medical experts.”
When Ryleigh was admitted in August 2021, colleagues in Leeds gave the hospital explicit instructions to consult a neuromuscular specialist.
“Had they done so, identifying rhabdomyolysis and advice on how to treat a flare up, would have followed. The hospital would and should have then provided this information to Ryleigh’s parents while the root cause of Ryleigh’s condition was being investigated.”
“Ryleigh died on November 8, 2021, just three months after being discharged at the very hospital where she was born a little over three years earlier.”
“Instead of being advised that Ryleigh was suffering from rhabdomyolysis and providing her parents with guidance on how to manage this safely, my clients were instead told that Ryleigh would recover as quickly as she became unwell.”
“We believe that Ryleigh’s death could have been prevented and have been instructed to pursue a medical negligence claim.”
Ryleigh was unable to walk and had severely weak limbs when he was released from Blackpool Victoria Hospital. It took her eleven days to regain her movement.
Ryleigh’s parents, Andrew Hillcoat and Caroline Bee, said: “We are very upset at the loss of our little girl. We had to fight for a full inquest into her death and it has been a long and traumatising journey.”
“We are devastated about the coroner’s finding despite robust evidence that Ryleigh’s rhabdomyolysis flare up in August 2021 could and should have been effectively managed.”
“We believe that Ryleigh should still be here today, but she was not given any chance of survival.” Blackpool NHS Teaching Hospitals Trust, which runs Blackpool Victoria Hospital, has been approached for a comment.
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