Family finally discovers truth of five-year-old boy’s death in NHS surgery blunder… 43 YEARS after the tragedy

• Carl Marrows lost his life because of errors by NHS hospital staff, inquest hears
• He suffered ‘massive blood loss’ due to a known complication of the procedure
• An inquest in 1986 put the five year old boy’s death down to natural causes
• Driven by a sense of injustice, his family challenged the decision years later

Carl Marrows was originally said to have died from natural causes but in reality he lost his life because of errors by hospital staff, an inquest heard

A family has won a 43-year fight to discover the truth about a five-year-old boy’s needless death following a hospital operation.

Carl Marrows was originally said to have died from natural causes but in reality he lost his life because of errors by hospital staff, an inquest heard.

A coroner, who reinvestigated the boy’s death after a legal battle by his family, concluded Carl had been the victim of neglect and ‘gross failure of care’. 

The ruling at a new inquest in Hull last week was welcomed by the boy’s father who said there had been a cover-up by hospital staff.

The youngster, who had spina bifida, died following an operation in 1978 at Scunthorpe General Hospital to correct his gait. 

He suffered ‘massive blood loss’ due to a known complication of the procedure. An inquest in 1986 put the death down to natural causes but, driven by a sense of injustice, his family challenged the decision years later.

Carl’s father John approached coroner Professor Paul Marks who uncovered records of the case, agreed the verdict was ‘not sustainable’ and backed his bid to have the inquest finding overturned at the High Court. 

The youngster, who had spina bifida, died following an operation in 1978 at Scunthorpe General Hospital to correct his gait. The hospital is seen above in later years

They succeeded and a fresh inquest was ordered. It heard how precautionary measures should have been taken in case Carl suffered bleeding after surgery. 

Instead of having a tube fitted to allow for the emergency treatment, he was simply sent to a ward.

When a nurse realised something was wrong, there was a delay before a doctor arrived and staff were unable to save his life.

Professor Marks said had the proper procedures been carried out Carl would not have gone into cardiac arrest and died. He also noted some medical records were incomplete.

The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion including that neglect had led to the child’s death.

Describing the death as sad and tragic, he added: ‘If Carl had survived this operation he would have been 49 this July. His family have conducted themselves with the deepest integrity and dignity throughout these proceedings.’

Carl’s father John approached coroner Professor Paul Marks who uncovered records of the case, agreed the verdict was ‘not sustainable’ and backed his bid to have the inquest finding overturned at the High Court

After the hearing Mr Marrows, 74, a retired HGV driver from Howsham, Lincolnshire, described Carl as ‘a very bright little lad’. 

He said: ‘The whole thing has been a cover up. They just did not want the hospital or the NHS to look bad. I am glad the truth has finally come out but it grieves me that my poor lad could still have been with us now.’

He said his ex-wife Jennifer, who died several years ago, was ‘hit hard’ by the tragedy and they split up.

Dr Peter Reading, of Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Trust, said: ‘We hope that this new inquest verdict brings the family some closure.’

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