Critically-ill baby 'left to deteriorate' as NHS staff shortages delay life-saving surgery

The parents of a 12-week-old baby waiting for life-saving heart surgery say they are being failed by the NHS.

Cheryl Diffin and husband Lee found out their unborn baby had a heart condition during their 20-week scan in April, and were told he would need surgery shortly after his birth on August 11.

Nearly three months on from Cruz being born, the family are still in limbo waiting for confirmation of when the surgery will go ahead.

They are one of a number of families impacted by staffing shortages at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children.

Paediatric cardiac surgery has been temporarily suspended at the hospital as a result of a “short-term staffing gap” caused by sickness absence and vacancies in a specialist service.

“At three weeks old, we were able to bring him home. The plan was to help him get bigger and put weight on for surgery”, the 36-year-old told STV News.

While Cruz was doing well at home for the first few weeks, his condition began to worsen, which led to him being in and out of the hospital for several weeks.

Glasgow & West

Paediatric heart surgery paused due to staff shortage at children’s hospital

Patients at Glasgow’s Royal Hospital for Children will have their heart surgery carried out at other ‘carefully chosen sites’ in the UK.

Cruz was admitted to the children’s hospital on October 18 due to breathing difficulties and was later moved to intensive care.

The family were told that Cruz would have to have the surgery carried out at another hospital site in the UK, with the health board covering all transport, accommodation, and living costs.

“On October 29, they told us he would be going to Newcastle for the surgery due to the staff shortages, and I didn’t think it would drag on”, Cheryl explained.

“The following week, we were told he would be going to Leicester,” she said.

Meanwhile, Cruz’s condition was worsening, and he was put on a ventilator.

“He was really struggling to breathe, and he’s now on antibiotics due to an infection in his bloodstream.

“But it didn’t have to come to this,” she said.

Cheryl Diffin's son, Cruz, found out her baby had a heart condition at her 20-week scan in April, and was told he would need surgery shortly after his birth on August 11. — Cheryl Diffin’s son, Cruz, found out her baby had a heart condition at her 20-week scan in April, and was told he would need surgery shortly after his birth on August 11. Cheryl Diffin

The mum-of-two believes that the health board neglected Cruz and “stood back until he needed to be ventilated”.

“I’ve been pushing for weeks, and you could see his condition getting worse”, she explained.

“What’s going on with the health board shouldn’t cause this suffering to a baby.

“We’ve known about his condition since April, and now he’s been put on a ventilator due to delays.”

‘I don’t feel like they have my baby’s best interest at heart’

Cheryl added that the situation has pushed her past her “breaking point”.

“It’s horrific as a mother to sit and see your baby left to the point he needs to be ventilated. I don’t feel like they have my baby’s best interest at heart,” she said.

“We’re not the only family going through this.

“It’s an emergency, it’s not a game. It’s babies, and it’s heart surgery – not minor things. It’s lifesaving stuff they’re waiting for.”

Cruz is scheduled to be transferred to a hospital in Leicester on Monday, November 10, for surgery on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for NHSGGC said: “Due to a short-term staffing gap caused by sickness absence and vacancies in a specialist service, we have paused paediatric cardiac surgery at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow.

They added that the pause is unlikely to last more than a few weeks.

“A small number of patients will have their surgery undertaken in another UK Centre. We have well established pathways with carefully chosen UK expert sites for doing this,” they said.

“All transport, accommodation and living costs for the child and their family will be covered while they are away from home.

“The temporary arrangement has been made in close conjunction and agreement with National Services Division who commission the service.”

The spokesperson confirmed that Cruz has a confirmed surgery date and his family has been kept informed.

“We understand that this is an anxious time for Cruz’s family, and we encourage them to continue to speak with their medical team if they need any further reassurance about his surgical plan,” they said.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Thanks to record investment, NHS Scotland has seen 13 consecutive years of workforce growth — including a 12.8% rise in anaesthetic consultants in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde over the past five years.

“Scotland’s NHS continues to perform strongly, with core A&E units the best performing the UK for a decade, 97% of patients discharged without delay, and record numbers of hip and knee replacements last year.

“We remain committed to tackling pressures and supporting staff, despite external challenges such as UK Government migration policies. Work is ongoing through the Nursing & Midwifery Taskforce and the Future Medical Workforce project to ensure NHS careers remain attractive.”