We’ll work with NHS to give our Alfie dignity say parents
THE parents of “warrior” baby Alfie Evans last night pledged to “work with doctors” to give their son the dignity and comfort he needs.
Tom Evans and Kate James made the dramatic announcement after a lengthy meeting with medics at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.
In a sudden change of tone, Mr Evans, 21, called off “Alfie’s Army” and praised the NHS staff who had been caring for their 23-month-old little boy.
He said: “Our lives have been turned upside down by the intense focus on Alfie and his situation.
“We would now ask you to return back to your everyday lives and allow myself, Kate and Alder Hey to form a relationship, build a bridge and walk across it.
“We also wish to thank Alder Hey staff at every level for their dignity and professionalism during what must be an incredibly difficult time for them too.
Encourage
“In Alfie’s interests we will work with his treating team on a plan that provides our boy with the dignity and comfort he needs. From this point onwards, there will be no more statements issued or interviews given. We hope you will respect this.”
Earlier Mr Evans had insisted it was no “miracle” that the tot, who is terminally ill with a degenerative brain condition, was still “going strong” despite coming off life support three days ago.
It was, he said, a “misdiagnosis” by doctors at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Yesterday Mr Evans said: “Alfie doesn’t need intensive care anymore. Alfie is lying on the bed with one litre of oxygen going into his lungs and the rest is him.
“He hasn’t woken up, he’s still a little bit weak, but what we ask for is to go home to sustain his life.”
Mr Evans also stressed that Alfie was “not suffering” and was not in pain. He said: “As I sit next to Alfie’s bedside, every second of every day, it encourages me more and more that he will live for ‘x’ amount of months, possibly years.” The little boy has been at the centre of a life-or-death court battle for six months, which has been acrimonious at times.
On Wednesday the Court of Appeal heard Mr Evans had considered bringing a “conspiracy to murder” charge against doctors and some of the family’s hundreds of thousands of supporters have been protesting outside the hospital.
Police have remained on site for several days after Alder Hey said its staff had experienced “unprecedented personal abuse”.
It also emerged that staff at the Royal Liverpool Hospital had been warned to hide their uniform and ID outside work amid fears over hostility towards NHS staff because of Alfie’s case.