THAT’s the plea of Callum Cartlidge’s mum Stacey to local parents after sitting through the five day inquest into his death at Stourport on Severn.
There the Worcestershire Coroner said little Callum would have survived had medics carried out a simple blood test on him.
Recording a narrative verdict, the Coroner said this had been a serious failing but not a gross failing by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
Eight-year-old Callum died hours after being sent home from Worcestershire Royal Hospital after being referred there by his GP.
A post mortem found he had Addison’s Crisis – a medical emergency which develops from Addison’s Disease.
“Obviously we are happy with the outcome and we will be taking it further, but the whole thing has been very traumatic,” said Stacey.
“None of this will bring Callum back and no matter what happens we will never be able to escape this.
“And after hearing what I heard at the inquest I will never be taking my children to Worcestershire Royal ever again.
“That’s my advice to parents, don’t take your children there, take them to the Children’s Hospital in Birmingham.”
Stacey said she had been amazed at the care given at the Children Hospital when Callum’s little brother Laighton had to be taken there once.
“The staff were brilliant, attentive, he was thoroughly checked and looked over and they couldn’t do enough for you,” she said.
Callum died on March 3, 2017, after suffering a cardiac arrest. Hours earlier the eight-year-old had been sent home from Worcestershire Royal Hospital following a referral from his GP.
He was discharged at 11pm without having had a blood test.
At the time Callum dad Aidy told the Observer: “When they discharged him he was so weak he couldn’t walk. I had to carry him. I had to hold a bottle to his lips so he could drink.”
On April 29, 2017 Redditch came together in a March for Callum which went from Trinity High School to Church Green as a mark of respect to the youngster.
