Concern over 'bed shortage' death

Polly died of complications from a heart condition

The parents of a five-year-old girl who died after a hospital transfer have said they are concerned a bed shortage compromised her care.

A coroner heard Polly Rotton of Forest Town was moved from Leicester's Glenfield Hospital to Queen's Medical Centre (QMC), Nottingham, in 2004.

Daniel and Jane Rotton said pressure on bed space forced the unwanted move.

Both hospitals said they stand by their care of Polly after heart surgery. A coroner recorded a narrative verdict.

Previous experience

Polly was transferred away from the specialist heart unit at Glenfield after her fifth operation.

Jane Rotton said staff at the hospital were familiar with Polly's complex condition.

"Ideally we would have wanted her to stay at Glenfield because we knew that if any problems occurred with Polly, we were in the right place for them to deal with them," she said.

"Polly did become very ill very quickly and it was too late for anyone to help her because I think they didn't know what was going on with Polly, while at Glenfield, hopefully they might have known."

Expert opinion

The family's solicitor Paul Balen said: "My clients do however remain concerned that the issue of a shortage of beds in the intensive care suite at Glenfield clouded the clinician's judgement and really led to their child being transferred to a non-specialist unit before all the necessary tests and examinations had been carried out."

The family said they had not ruled out legal action.

An independent expert told the inquest the transfer was appropriate but felt that more tests could have been done.

Nottinghamshire coroner Dr Nigel Chapman ruled Polly died from complications arising from an operation to treat her heart condition.

He said pressure on beds was a widespread issue but did not comment directly on the issue of the transfer.