Heartbreak for hospital death family

Yadav Krishnakumar died on February 20, a day after he was released from Fairfield Hospital's A&E department when his parents claim they were told to use the children's medicine Calpol to treat his symptoms.

Pathmarasa and Kamalaranjani Krishnakumar, say doctors at the Rochdale Old Road hospital refused to take their son's vomiting and diarrhoea seriously. They say they were told not to worry as it was happening to children across the country. They have now approached Manchester-based law firm Pannone Solicitors to take on their case.

Speaking from the family home in Ormrod Street, Yadav's distraught mother Kamalaranjani (33) said: "Babies trust parents and parents trust doctors but they let us down. If I could take my breath and give it to my baby I would. My life is finished."

Her husband Pathmarasa added: "I cannot sleep, I cannot eat, I cannot do anything. We are like dead bodies. I literally have a broken heart."

It was in the late hours of Saturday, February 18 that Yadav started to vomit and suffer from diarrhoea and a temperature.

His symptoms persisted throughout the night and, at 4pm on the Sunday, he was taken to Fairfield's accident and emergency department.

His parents say he was seen by a doctor 45 minutes later and they explained that, in the last 18 hours, Yadav had suffered diarrhoea 15 times, continual vomiting and was unable to keep down his food and drink.

Pathmarasa claims the doctor confirmed Yadav had a high temperature and told him the baby should be admitted.

He says Yadav was given children's medicine Calpol and doctors reviewed the situation half an hour later. By this time his temperature had fallen and Yadav was well enough to go home.

Pathmarasa (40) said: "I asked about any further medication but I was told by the doctor that the hospital pharmacy was closed and just to continue with Calpol at home.

"I questioned the amount of diarrhoea my son had experienced and was told not to worry as these symptoms were occurring all over the country. The doctor suggested that if Yadav's temperature went up again I should take him to my GP."

On the Monday morning, his symptoms were still persisting and Pathmarasa took Yadav to see their GP where he was prescribed more Calpol.

Pathmarasa said: "I explained the baby had had more diarrhoea. The doctor was only concerned about the temperature which he said was more or less normal.

"I mentioned my concerns about the diarrhoea and vomiting and the doctor advised to stop giving Yadav milk and continue with only orange juice. He prescribed more Calpol and another syrup but did not give much advice to stop any further dehydration."

Later that evening, Pathmarasa noticed his son's eyes had become sunken and took him back to Fairfield.

He says that, within 10 minutes, Yadav's breathing became shallow and staff began resuscitation but Yadav died 20 minutes later.

Investigations are still going on to determine the cause of death and an inquest has been opened.

Pathmarasa and Kamalaranjani moved to the UK from Sri Lanka in December 2000 with oldest son Vyshav, now aged seven, shortly after Pathmarasa's brother and father were killed and Kamalaranjani suffered a miscarriage from being attacked and kicked in the stomach by a soldier.

They settled in Bury and Kamalaranjani gave birth to Yadav at Fairfield Hospital in June 2004 followed by younger brother Ragav six months ago.

Kamalaranjani said: "We came to this country to save our lives but instead we lost our baby. They did not save us."

The family were dealt another blow when, the day after Yadav died, baby brother Ragav began to show similar symptoms. He was admitted to Fairfield Hospital straight away where Pathmarasa claims he was given medication and monitored over the next 24 hours before being deemed well enough to return home.

Ragav was visited by the community nurse every day until the following Saturday when the family were told to take him back to hospital after he stopped taking his milk and began to suffer from diarrhoea He was monitored throughout the weekend and Pathmarasa claims he was given medication every 10 minutes until he eventually accepted milk and made a full recovery.

Pathmarasa said: "When I took Ragav, I was told everything about the causes of dehydration and how to check his fingers, tears, chest and breathing for the signs. But for Yadav, we were not given any advice and it is too late for him."

A spokesman for the Pennine Acute Trust, which runs Fairfield Hospital, said: "We can confirm that Yadav died at Fairfield General Hospital on Monday 20th February. The incident is being investigated by the coroner so we cannot comment further at this time."

Yadav's older brother Vyshav has been left devastated by the death of his "best friend" and now refuses to eat in the mornings.

Pathmarasa said: "Last summer, Vyshav wanted to play football with Yadav but they played cricket instead because Yadav was too small and I told Vyshav he would have to wait until next year. Now Vyshav asks who will play football with him now?

"Every morning, before he went to school, Vyshav would help Yadav eat bread for breakfast and now he refuses to eat in the mornings. Yadav and Vyshav were not like brothers, they were more like best friends."

The family captured every milestone moment of Yadav's life on film, including his entry to the Bury Times Child of the Year 2004, and have hundreds of photographs they are putting together in a large album packed full of memories to remember their son.

Julie Anne MacLenna, from Pannone's Clinical Negligence department said: "We have been approached by the Krishnakumar family to investigate the circumstances surrounding Yadav's death and we will try to help them in anyway we can."

A spokesperson for Bury Council said: "This family are housed in the private sector and were not known to us previously but since the tragic death of their child we are providing all the support we can to help them through this difficult time. Bury Council would like to express its deepest condolences to the whole family.".