Parents’ agonising wait for care

A PREMATURE baby fighting for life after being born on holiday was stranded abroad because the NHS had no space to bring him home.

Rocco Shrubsole arrived 10 weeks early – while parents Jade and Jay were on Fuerteventura in the Canaries.

Spanish doctors warned the 2lb tot had little chance of survival as they had no premature care facilities.

But once doctors were finally happy for Rocco to fly home – after emergency heart surgery – the family say their local NHS hospital told them they had no cots.

And when Jade and Jay phoned frantically round other hospitals, they were told his care was not their responsibility.

Jade, 31, said: “We always hoped when we needed the NHS they’d be there for us, but we’ve been completely let down.

“Things have got so bad they no longer even have the resources for premature babies. It’s disgraceful.

Begging