| Location | Salisbury, Wiltshire |
| Age | 1 year, 7 months |
| Cause of Death | Cardiac Arrest |
| Date of Birth | 04/04/2006 |
| Date of Death | 28/11/2007 |
| Visitors | 1,376 since 10/09/2009 |
| Creator |
Alfred, known as Alfie, was our third child, our first son. He was born on the 4th April 2006,
weighing in at 10lb 3oz he was huge, gorgeous and had lots of hair!! He developed normally,
although was chesty at times, and seemed prone to chest infections. He was diagnosed in July 2007 as
having asthma. He was admitted to hospital on the 28th October 2007 suffering from croup, but he
responded well to treatment and only had to stay in for one night. Life returned to normal. On the
28th November our lives changed forever. Alfie woke late, which was unusual for him. He appeared
unwell. I rang the doctors and was given an appointment for 12 noon. I asked if there were any
earlier ones but told there wasn't. I toyed with the idea of taking him up to A & E, but thought
would end up having to wait there for 3-4 hrs so would be probably quicker to wait and see the
doctor. Once she examined him we were referred to hospital. He was assessed immediately, blood was
taken, oxgyen was given followed by back to back nebulisers. A chest xray was taken, and I was told
he had a nasty chest infection, would have to stay in for a couple of nights but he would be fine.
I made the mistake of believing them. Alfie was floppy, unresponsive, pale, lethargic, had a blood
pressure of approx 139/79, temp 36.7, oxgygen sats of just 83% (although this did improve to 93%
once on a 100% oxygen which didn't happen until 1600 hrs) and had a respiratory rate of 68 breaths
per minute. Alfie suffered a cardiac arrest at 1630 hrs, but despite all resusitation efforts, my
darling son was pronounced dead at 1715 hrs. We had to wait 22 months for his inquest, which proved
what we had known right from the start that he shouldn't have died. Alfie was supposed to have been
intubated and transferred to the ICU at Salisbury Hospital, while awaiting for the retrevial team to
come from Southampton PICU and take him there. Alfie did not receive the treatment he required, nor
the medication he was prescribed. His antibiotics were written up at approx 1330, but he was not
given them until 2 1/2 hours later. He was given an inadequate level of oxgyen from the moment he
arrived through until 1600 hrs. His bp, pulse, temp etc were just taken occasionally, he received
insufficient iv fluids as well as an extremely poor level of care. He was diagnoised as having
pneumonia with sepsis, but the consultant paediatrician decided that he was suffering from asthma
and decided to treat him for that, ignoring the other doctors (correct) diagnosis. His post mortem
reveiled that he had bronchopnuemonia. An internal investigation took place within the hospital to
find out why our son had died. The report was eventually finished, and found severe and significant
failings in the care that Alfie had received.
The coroner ruled a narrative verdict, stating "The seriousness of his condition was not immediately
appreciated and acted upon by senior staff. In particular antibiotics, intravenous fluid boluses
and oxygen treatment could and should have been administered from 1.30pm onwards.
Whilst antibiotics were prescribed shortly after admission they were not administered until 3.55pm
Treatment by was of fluid boluses and oxygen therapy was not aggressive enough and inadequate.
It is my view that these omissions and delay did on balance of probabilities contribute more than
minimally or negligibly to Alfie’s death, given that the majority of children presenting with
these symptoms would have ordinarily been expected to survive with optimal and timely care."
My Alfie suffered from an illness which he could have and should have been treated for. Now we, and
our two daughters, Megan and Ellie have to try to move on knowing that our son, their brother,
should be here with us today. Alfie never got to meet his younger brother ,Corey born July 2008,
who I was only 7 weeks pregnant with when he died.
I miss my baby every day and desperately wish that events had turned out so differently. I will
never forget my beautiful, sweet natured and smiling boy. I love and adore him so much it causes a
physical pain in my chest.
I will never ever forgive the man who still currently works with the job title of a consultant
paediatrician who instead of supposedly looking after my son and treating him, allowed him to die
instead.
I want my son to be remembered, and his death not to have been in vain. Procedures have apparently
been implemented within the hospital to try and ensure that what happened to my Alfie never happens
to another child. Unfortunately it is too late for Alfie and I now have to live the rest of my life
knowing that I am never going to see my little boy again, and that is what breaks my heart.
What kind of place would heaven be with all its streets of gold, if all the souls, that dwell up there like yours and mine, were old? How strange would heaven’s music sound when harps begin to ring, if children were not gathered ‘round to help the angels sing. The children that God sends to us are only just a loan, He knows we need their sunshine to make the house a home. We need the inspiration of a baby’s blessed smile. He doesn’t say they’ve come to stay, just lends them for a while. Sometimes it takes them years to do the work for which they come. Sometimes in just a month or two our Father calls them home. I like to think some souls up there bear not one sinful scar. I love to think of heaven as a place where children are.
xxx
Hey babes, lots of people finding out about you and the cock up that the hospital made. You've been in 2 papers, on 2 news reports on tv (and the web) and also on local radio. Hospital buzzing apparently with news of you and the verdict we got. Have not forgotten you darling, miss you loads still. So do Bell, Moo and Daddy. Told Bean about you. Love you more than I can ever express, and miss you even more. I am sorry darling love you forever xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxx To my dear little darling brother xxx
He was always a smiley,beatiful and just genrally a really nice little brother to have.Cheery nice,and a brilliant boy. I just wanted to say I love you still
and miss you also.
My Beautiful little nephew xx
x Every day i think of you and have a photo by my bed of you and me on your first birthday when you had your cake it is what i see last thing at night and first thing in the morning. I never realised how precious life could be x
He was the most beautiful little boy and a poppet too, he had so much love to give and was so so special. Fi and Andy love him so much, it is so so unfair. Seeing my sister in so much pain was unbearible, seeing Andy, the girls and the whole family so sad and heartbroken broke my heart again. The day Alfie went was the worst day of my whole life, since the day he was gone nothing has ever been the same and never will be. I am so proud of my sister and Andy for trying to get some kind of justice and to make sure that this will never happen again and no one should ever have to suffer like they have. Alfie was let down by those at the hospital who were ment to be looking after him.
They both love Alfie so much and every time i saw him he was happy and had so much love from the whole family and was a lucky little boy with two lovely older sisters who he loved to be with and even through Ellie would take stuff off him he soon started getting her back ;-). Ill never forget once when he was at mine and i had saved him some organic cheese and herb puffs and he loved his food bless him and got all excited and took one bite and his face was a picture! He gave them straight back, me and Fi were just laughing, hes so special words can not begin to explain.The day before he died I went to town with Fi and Alfie with my little girl Olivia and he was happy and him and Livi both had some choclate and he had it round his mouth, when i left Fi and said bye to him i never knew that wold be the last time i would see him, it breaks my heart it really does.
Fi and Andy made him so happy and they should feel some comfort that he had more love ,in his life than some people ever have in there whole life and they gave him so much love and cared for him so much. He was always happy and he knew how much his mum and dad and two sisters loved him and he loved them back so much too.
I will always remember him for his smiley little chocolate coverd face and his lovely cuddles and how placid he was and he is always in our hearts and i love him to bits and he was only here for such a short time but he brought so much love and precious memories that will last a life time.
I never knew how precious life was, and how sometimes peole are taken too too soon, i try to think about what is important and i know i can not see him like i did but i think that he is around us and in our hearts and our souls and all the love he gave and happy memories will be with each of us every day forever.
Fi and Andy you two were the best parents that Alfie could had wished for and i know he loved you both so very much and i think he is still with you and looks down on you everyday.
I love you all very much and everyday i think of you all.
Alfie you are such a special little Nephew and you have a very special place in my heart, I love you so so much and Uncle Gary, Dan and little Livi all miss you and love you so much and we always talk about you and think about you and miss you more than words can say , I love you sweetheart xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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For a darling boy
So sorry to hear the circumstances of Alfie's death and angered at same time. I hope that good will come of this so that no one else has to endure the pain that your family has had to. You're all incredibly strong and I admire you all for that.
God bless you all and god bless Alfie,may he rest in peace and his memory live on in everyones' heartsxxxxx
I heard so many wonderful things about you Alfie although I never really knew you, but I know you were a gorgeous wonderful boy, loved by everyone x
God bless you xxx
God bless your family xxx
I heard so many wonderful things about you Alfie although I never really knew you, but I know you were a gorgeous wonderful boy, loved by everyone x
God bless you xxx
God bless your family xxx
Moved to tears...
My heart goes out to you darling Alfie & your loving family.
You were all failed so badly by the hospital & my heart actually hurts for you, im so saddened.
Always here for you as a friend,
love Shelly xxx
angel alfred
my heart breaks for you.....alfred you were such a handsome young baby boy...your picture is so innocent and it breaks my heart that you are not here with your loving family...you will never be forgotten angel and hope you meet my son nicholas...
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