Mum says son was refused blood count (From Warrington Guardian)

Mum says son was refused blood count

THE mother of an eight-year-old boy who suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anaemia has slammed Warrington Hospital after her son was refused a routine blood count.

Felicia Kelly, of Mardale Avenue, Orford was contacted by her GP from the Guardian Street Medical Centre to tell her that her son Adam was due for his blood count to be taken.

Felicia then called the hospital and claims she was told that the outpatients department for children's blood was being phased out and that the test couldn't be done.

She claims that she later discovered that the story was completely untrue and the reason the test couldn't be done was because the nurse was on leave for a fortnight.

Felicia said: "We've been sent back and forth trying to get my son's blood count tested and I can't believe that we've been caused all this trouble for nothing. If we'd just been told to come back in a fortnight there wouldn't have been a problem. As it was, I complained to my GP and was referred to the district nurse who told me she wasn't equipped to do the test.

"I was left to believe that there was no-one who could do this test because the hospital had decided to phase it out. I even contacted my son's consultant who told me he couldn't do it either.

"And all because someone made up a story instead of telling me the facts."

She added: "I was getting really concerned because it's vital that Adam regularly has a blood count because the medication he takes for his ADHD means he loses his appetite and doesn't get all the nutrients he needs.

"He's already mildly anaemic and has to be tested to make sure it doesn't get worse."

Keith Bennett, directorate manager of women's and children's services at the hospital, said: "Due to short notice compassionate leave we are unable to provide our routine paediatric phlebotomy service. During this time all urgent cases are being dealt with and all non-urgent cases are given appointments for the following week. I apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused."