Review criticises care of dental-phobic death girl

Sophie was fed through a tube following the operation in hospital

A girl who starved to death because of a profound fear of dentists suffered a "lack of clarity" in care, a serious case review has found.

Eight-year-old Sophie Waller, from St Dennis, Cornwall, refused to eat, sleep, or drink when her milk teeth started to become loose.

Eight teeth were removed under general anaesthetic in November 2005, but it failed to cure her phobia.

When Sophie died four weeks later in December, she had lost 11kg (23lbs).

The review was completed by the Local Safeguarding Children Board, but its findings have just been revealed.

Recording improvement

It said there had been a lack of communication between the agencies involved in the child's care.

"No clear written plan was made on discharge and there was lack of clarity about responsibility for medical review following discharge," the report said.

It concluded there was a clear need to improve recording, and communication of decisions made which impact upon the care of a child, to other professionals or carers.

Cornwall Coroner Dr Emma Carlyon recorded a narrative verdict at the inquest in February last year.

She said the severity of Sophie's phobia had gone unnoticed by the authorities, which prevented her from receiving the medical support that could have prevented her death.

The Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust apologised to Sophie's family after the inquest and said recommendations made in a clinical review following her death had been implemented.