Ryleigh Hillcoat-Bee’s parents are devastated after learning their three-year-old daughter’s life might have been saved with appropriate care. Ryleigh suffered from rhabdomyolysis, a rare condition causing muscle breakdown, leading to fatal complications. She died three months after being discharged from Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where she had been treated for five days.
A coroner’s inquest revealed significant failures in Ryleigh’s care, with Alan Wilson noting that medical staff missed critical “red flags” that could have led to an early diagnosis. Despite worsening mobility issues, doctors discharged her without further evaluation, missing a “potential neuromuscular problem.”
Ryleigh’s blood tests showed high levels of Creatine Kinase, linked to muscle damage, yet doctors misdiagnosed her with a chest infection or hepatitis. Although Ryleigh exhibited symptoms like weakness and lethargy, these signs were overlooked, leading to her premature discharge.
Attorney Diane Rostron, representing Ryleigh’s family, stated that the hospital ignored advice to consult a neuromuscular specialist. “The hospital was given clear advice… to get specialist advice,” Rostron said, stressing that this step could have led to a life-saving diagnosis.
The inquest findings seek to hold Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust accountable, with the hope of preventing similar tragedies.
