Gloucester mum of baby Oscar Willcox takes legal action against hospital over 'neglect'

DISTRAUGHT Tiffany White is suing the hospital she claims neglected her baby Oscar Willcox before his death.

The 19-year-old and her partner James Willcox are one of 10 families taking legal action against University Hospitals Bristol Foundation Trust after newborn babies and children died or suffered complications.

Oscar died in April 2012 at nine weeks old from a heart condition but Miss White, from Claremont Road, said nurses at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children failed to notify her Oscar had been put on a life support machine. She also claimed staff failed to clean up his vomit or change his nappies. Miss White said staff told her he was being placed in a high dependency unit, but later discovered there were no free beds.

The couple won an unreserved apology from the hospital five months after Oscar's death for not responding to them when the family first raised their concerns.

The 10 families are now seeking an admission of wrongdoing by the hospital trust and even compensation.

Miss White said: "I thought he was in the best hands. I only found out he was on life support when I called the hospital the next day. It was a huge shock to us.

"He fought for nine weeks before giving up. We had to agree to turning his life support off and it was the hardest thing we have done in our lives."

Robert Woolley, foundation trust chief executive, said: "Despite the risks and the complex needs of the children we care for, we have results among the best in England. In July 2012, it was announced that the Bristol Children's Hospital will be designated as one of seven specialist surgical centres in England."