Three months after being discharged from A&E, a three-year-old girl died because
When Ryleigh Hillcoat-Bee fell ill while on holiday in North Wales with her family, she was sent to hospital.
The little girl had “extremely high” levels of potassium and creatine kinase in her blood.
Signs and indicators suggest a serious muscle problem. Along with rhabdomyolysis. Despite this, Ryleigh was released from the hospital.
Three months later she was having breathing problems so her parents, Caroline and Andrew, rushed her back to A&E.
She suffered a heart attack at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on Monday 8 November 2021 and died.
At an inquest held last week, Blackpool District Coroner Alan Wilson said there were several “missed opportunities” to examine Ryleigh’s limited mobility before she was discharged in August.
In the interests of Ryleigh’s parents, Diane Rostron, a medical negligence lawyer, said “the hospital was given clear advice from colleagues in Leeds during Ryleigh’s admission in August 2021 to seek expert advice from a neuromuscular specialist”.
“If they did, they would be able to diagnose rhabdomyolysis and get advice on how to treat a flare-up.” The hospital would inform Ryleigh’s parents of this information after determining what was wrong with her, allowing them to investigate further.
“Ryleigh died on November 8, 2021, just three months after being sent home from the hospital where she was born almost three years ago.”
“Instead of being told that Ryleigh had rhabdomyolysis and the parents being advised to manage it safely, my clients were told that Ryleigh would get better as soon as she got sick.”
“We believe that Ryleigh’s death could have been prevented and have been instructed to file a medical negligence claim.”
A statement from Ryleigh’s parents, Andy Hillcoat and Caroline Bee read: “We are very saddened by the death of our little girl.” I had to work very hard to get her death thoroughly investigated. The journey was difficult and long.
“We are heartbroken by the coroner’s decision, although there is strong evidence that Ryleigh’s rhabdomyolysis flare-up in August 2021 could have been well managed.”
“We believe that Ryleigh should still be here today, but she was given no chance of survival.”
“Firstly, I want to express my deepest condolences to Ryleigh’s family and to everyone who was touched in her life, both personally and on behalf of everyone at the Trust,” said Chris Barben, president of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
“While we know it cannot bring Ryleigh back, we will carefully consider the coroner’s findings about the way the Trust conducted itself during this tragic incident to ensure we learn all we can about what happened and work to prevent something like this from happening again.”
In 2022, Katie Hobbs, Caroline’s sister-in-law, coordinated the charity event and ran the Royal Parks Half Marathon to raise funds for The Compassionate Friends. Over 3000 lbs. was raised at the event.
“My sister-in-law Caroline and her partner Andrew Ryleigh’s daughter passed away suddenly and out of the blue last November,” Katie said on the GoFundMe page.
“Her loss was terrible for her parents and everyone who knew her.
“She was a sweet little girl with a big smile who brought so much magic and joy to everyone she met.
“I am running for Compassionate Friends because they helped Ryleigh’s wonderful parents through the worst time of their lives.
“The charity brought them together with other grieving parents and organized a retreat where they met in person afterward.”
The heartbreaking loss of Ryleigh Hillcoat-Bee has devastated her family and community. Despite initial hospital treatment, critical symptoms were missed, leading to missed opportunities for proper diagnosis and care. Ryleigh’s parents, Caroline and Andrew, continue to fight for accountability and believe her death could have been prevented with appropriate medical intervention.
The investigation revealed significant failings by the hospital in dealing with Ryleigh’s condition, sparking debate about the necessary changes to the healthcare system to prevent similar tragedies in the future. As Ryleigh’s family dealt with their grief, they took steps to honor her memory, such as participating in a fundraiser for The Compassionate Friends, which provides vital support to bereaved parents.
Their story is a poignant reminder of the importance of a thorough medical examination and the profound impact of loss on families. While Ryleigh’s life was tragically cut short, her legacy lives on through the love of her family and the changes they hope to inspire in healthcare practices.
As the community rallies around the Hillcoat-Bee family, there is a shared hope that their efforts will not only bring about healing but also spur major improvements in patient care that protect against future loss.