Charlie’s final days to be decided by judge today

Parents’ desire for baby to be at home unlikely to be fulfilled

Terminally-ill baby Charlie Gard is unlikely to be allowed to spend his final days at home with his parents, a High Court judge has said.

Mr Justice Francis said he will make a decision today about where the 11-month-old boy should spend the remainder of his life.

Doctors caring for Charlie at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London said they want to fulfil the “last desire” of his parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates.

However, they said there are practical difficulties in providing the intensive care he needs outside a hospital and the judge said the chances of him being able to spend his final days at home are “small”.

Barrister Grant Armstrong, who leads the couple’s legal team, suggested to MrJustice Francis that hospital bosses were placing obstacles in Charlie’s parents’ way.

“The parents wish for a few days of tranquillity outside a hospital setting,” Mr Armstrong said. “The parents had hoped that Great Ormond Street would work with them.”

He added: “The parents’ primary position is that Charlie’s final days of palliative care... should take place at the family home.”

Mr Armstrong said Great Ormond Street doctors thought that moving Charlie to a hospice was the best plan.

However, he said the couple felt there was a “brutality” in that option.

Barrister Katie Gollop QC, who leads Great Ormond Street’s legal team, said staff were not creating “obstacles”.

She said nothing could be further from the truth and staff had “moved heaven and earth” for Charlie.

However, she said the couple’s needs had to be balanced against Charlie’s best interests. “The care plan must be safe, it must spare Charlie all pain and protect his dignity,” said Ms Gollop.

“At the same time, the plan must honour his parents’ wishes about two matters in particular, namely the time and place of his passing.”

Barrister Victoria Butler-Cole, who represents a guardian appointed by the judge to independently represent Charlie’s interests, supported Great Ormond Street’s position.

Ms Butler-Cole said Charlie would need a “full paediatric intensive care team” – including four to six nurses – if he was to spend days at home receiving life-support treatment.

She said the idea was not realistic.

Pictures: PA and Getty. Connie Yates, the mother of terminally ill baby Charlie Gard, left, wants to take him home but faces a battle with courts.