Boy, eight, dies after 17-mile ambulance journey to hospital Paramedics directed to Worcester, even though nearest A&E just two minutes away in Redditch

AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD schoolboy died from a cardiac arrest after he was forced to travel 17 miles to hospital – instead of the nearest A&E just two minutes away.

An ambulance took Callum Cartlidge to Worcestershire Royal Hospital instead of the Alexandra Hospital, in his home town of Redditch.

Paramedics who sped to Callum’s home checked which hospital they should attend but were told to head for Worcester, a 17-mile journey which took 23 minutes.

The children’s ward at the Alexandra was controversially closed for admissions last September due to a shortage of specialist doctors.

Ambulances are instead sent to Worcester Royal, despite fears from campaigners who warned the decision could lead to “disaster”.

It was reported that Callum was taken to his GP on Tuesday last week and was diagnosed with tonsillitis and stomach ache. Two days later, he had low blood sugar and was taken to Worcestershire Royal but was discharged at 11pm. The ambulance service said it received a call to Callum’s home in Redditch at 3.26pm on Friday, March 3, to reports of an eight-year-old in cardiac arrest.

A spokesman for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Alexandra and Worcestershire Royal hospitals, said: “The trust offers sincere condolences to the family. As with any sudden unexpected death in childhood there will be a referral to the coroner, a post-mortem examination and a full external sudden unexpected deaths in childhood investigation as well as our own internal processes for a serious incident investigation.

“Until our investigations have been completed we cannot comment further.”

The boy’s family have now launched an appeal to raise £3,000 for his funeral.

Posting on Facebook, his distraught mother Stacey said: “RIP my darling son Callum. Words cannot describe how we are all feeling. I love you so much son. Fly high baby boy – I will see you again, I promise. Goodnight darling.”

West Midlands Ambulance Service stressed that the team sent to treat Callum did all they could.

A spokesman said: “A rapid response vehicle arrived five minutes after the call. The paramedic immediately started life support. An ambulance arrived shortly afterwards. Together, the three members of staff performed advanced life support.

“The ambulance left the scene for Worcestershire Royal Hospital at 3.42pm with the crew continuing to treat the patient ; it arrived at hospital 23 minutes later, at 4.05pm.

“Having reviewed the case, there is no doubt the ambulance staff did absolutely everything possible to help the child.”