PARENTS say they fear for the welfare of their children following the tragic death of eight-year-old Redditch schoolboy Callum Cartlidge.
Callum’s family lived just three minutes from the Alexandra Hospital but the ambulance crew, following a protocol in place since September to not take seriously ill children to the Alex, instead went to Worcestershire Royal – 19 miles away.
It has also been reported that the paramedics asked to take young Callum to the Alex but were told to go to Worcester instead.
Despite racing there under blue lights and sirens in just 23 minutes, the youngster died at the hospital leaving his family devastated – and demanding answers.
The tragedy has also struck fear into the hearts of Redditch parents who say they now simply do not know what to do if their child falls ill.
Sarah O’Mara, from Batchley, who has two children aged three and four said: “It’s just awful that something like this could happen.
“You have to trust that your children are safe in the hands of the ambulance services and the hospitals, but I’m not sure that’s so easy any more.
“It’s a real-life nightmare situation for a parent and as a mum, I cannot imagine what his family are going through.”
It is understood that young Callum fell ill last Tuesday and was sent by his GP to Worcestershire Royal with possible tonsillitis or a tummy bug on Thursday.
He was treated and sent home but then tragically suffered a cardiac arrest on Friday afternoon.
Neal Stote, the former chairman of the Save the Alex campaign who has children of his own said: “This is dreadful, dreadful shocking news.
“An enquiry has to be held to find out how this happened but the trust had been warned countless times of something like this – it makes a mockery of having the red Accident & Emergency sign for the Alex.
“Are they trying tell us that they didn’t have the kit or the expertise to help that child at the Alex?
“In that case why the red sign for A&E? Parents would go to the Moon to help their child but it’s no good if they don’t know which is the right place to take them.”
An ambulance service spokesman said: “We were called to an address in Redditch at 3.26pm on Friday, March 3 to reports of an eight year old boy in cardiac arrest.
“A rapid response vehicle arrived five minutes after the call. The paramedic immediately started life support.
“An ambulance arrived shortly afterwards. The ambulance left scene for Worcestershire Royal Hospital with the crew continuing to treat the patient; it arrived at hospital 23 minutes later.
“Having reviewed the case, there is no doubt the ambulance staff did absolutely everything possible to help the child. Our thoughts remain with his family.”
A spokesperson for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust said: “We can confirm that a patient died on Friday afternoon at Worcestershire Royal Hospital. The trust offers sincere condolences to the family
“Until our investigations have been completed we cannot comment further.”
