Hospital admits failings in boy’s treatment

Hayden Aspin with his mother, Lara

An 11-year-old boy from Middleton who faces major hip surgery and a lifetime of painful physiotherapy has been awarded compensation by the Royal Oldham Hospital.

Hayden Aspin’s parents have now called for improvements in care after Pennine Acute Trust, which runs the hospital, admitted failings in the way his genetic hip condition was treated as a young child.

Hayden was born at the Royal Oldham, where a routine test revealed both his hips were out of alignment and could be easily dislocated.

He underwent numerous painful procedures, and 10 years of treatment which included a full body splint, but was left with one leg shorter than the other.

Hayden now walks with a pronounced limp and faces a double hip replacement operation in later life.

After a legal battle brought though medical law experts Irwin Mitchell’s Manchester office, the boy’s parents have urged the trust to learn vital lessons from their son’s ongoing ordeal.

Frustrated at the hospital’s failure to resolve Hayden’s medical problems, parents Lara and David, say parents should seek further help if they are worried about their child’s medical treatment.

Hayden was diagnosed with bilateral dislocatable hips at birth, and initially put in a special harness to stabilise his hips, but when that proved unsuccessful, the tot was fitted with a body splint.

After several weeks, his mother’s concern prompted doctors to carry out an ultrasound scan which revealed his hips were being held out of alignment by the splint.

The youngster had to have several operations and faces further surgery next year to lengthen his leg.

His mother said: “By not treating it properly when he was very young, vital time was lost.

“Consequently we now have to wait for a double hip replacement when he is older for him to have a normal life.”

She sent a message to other parents: “Nobody knows your child like you do, so it is vital you follow your gut instinct when you think something is wrong.”

Pennine Acute Trust has agreed an out-of-court settlement, admitting some failings in the management of Hayden’s injuries, but the total value of the settlement to fund his care needs can’t be decided for another five years until he reaches skeletal maturity and the impact of his injuries can be fully assessed.

Mrs Aspin said: “While other toddlers were running around, Hayden was still crawling and couldn’t play football with his friends in the normal way. But he has not let his condition get him down and we are all extremely proud of him.”

Mr Aspin said he was disappointed the trust had not given the family any notification that procedures had changed following his son’s experience.

He said: “Hayden was born with clicky hips, and although his was a severe case, the condition affects around 2 per cent of all babies born.

“Compensation for Hayden was only 50 per cent of the reason for the claim, the other was to change the hospital’s methods so it doesn’t happen to another child — that’s why we agreed to publicity.

A spokesman for The Pennine Acute Trust said: “The trust is pleased that a settlement has been reached. We would like to offer Hayden and his family our sincerest apologies.”