Child dies 'after suffering hospital neglect' following heart surgery

A four-year-old boy who died in hospital was so badly neglected that he had to suck moisture from wet wipes to satiate his thirst, an inquest heard on January 13th.

Sean Turner’s parents Yolanda and Steve Turner, of Warminster, Wiltshire, told Avon Coroner’s Court that they had begged staff at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children to help them, but that nobody listened to them.

Sean was born with a heart condition and underwent complex surgery to correct these problems, and his parents claim he was moved out of intensive care before he was ready.

They also allege that doctors missed a range of warning signs, including high blood pressure, blood clots, fluid loss and continuous vomiting.

After collapsing on Ward 32, Sean was taken to intensive care, but was then taken back to Ward 32. On February 16th, he suffered from a cardiac arrest, before dying of a brain haemorrhage on March 15th.

Mr and Mrs Turner say this death was not an isolated incident, and that other children with similar health conditions have died while at the hospital.

Currently, as many as 10 families are taking legal action against the local NHS Trust over problems at Ward 32.

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