Parents Heartbroken as Hospital Failures Lead to Toddler’s Tragic Death After Surgery
Eleanor Aldred-Owen tragically passed away at just 21 months old following surgery for a rare condition known as bicoronal craniosynostosis. Diagnosed at 12 weeks old, Eleanor’s condition caused her skull’s sutures to fuse prematurely, requiring surgical intervention to relieve brain pressure.
Eleanor was under the care of Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Merseyside, where an inquest has now revealed a series of “missed opportunities” that contributed to her death, reported by the Mirror.
During the inquest, Assistant Coroner Helen Rimmer detailed the critical moments that unfolded during Eleanor’s post-surgery recovery. The court heard that during her operation, a tube was dislodged, leading to an abnormal heart rate— a condition known as tachycardia.
Despite her parents, Rachel and Chaz Aldred-Owen, raising concerns about Eleanor’s unusual breathing and recording a video to show hospital staff, the toddler was moved to recovery without a full review. The court learned that Eleanor was making “grunting” noises, a sign that could indicate a severe airway problem or illness.
Over several hours, Eleanor’s heart rate remained dangerously high—between 172 and 199 bpm—while her lips appeared pale. A blood gas test was performed but went unreviewed, which the coroner identified as another “missed opportunity” for intervention.
Assistant Coroner Rimmer stated: “Eleanor spent time in recovery when she went into tachycardia. She was returned to the ward, and her persistent tachycardia was not identified. This being a basic part of medical attention, Eleanor required, and as a result, a timely review was not triggered.”
Rimmer further highlighted: “No basic observations were recorded, which would have led to a review of her condition. A chest X-ray was performed and found to be grossly abnormal but was not escalated with ward staff. This is basic critical care that should have been undertaken.”
Tragically, Eleanor collapsed at 10.35pm on September 29 and suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite efforts, her condition deteriorated, and on October 2, Eleanor passed away peacefully in the arms of her parents.
In a statement, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital accepted full responsibility, saying: “We offer our heartfelt sympathies to Eleanor’s parents and family, and sincerely apologise for the errors that were made in her care. We accept full responsibility for those errors. They should not have happened, and we are deeply sorry that they did.”
The hospital assured that internal investigations had led to systemic improvements, including enhanced protocols, staff training, and updated escalation processes to prevent similar tragedies.
The heartbreaking case underscores the devastating impact of medical failures and the importance of improving patient safety systems to avoid further loss.