Alfie Evans latest: NHS bosses speak out over 'highly abusive and threatening' language used against hospital staff

Martin Coulter25 April 2018

Staff at the children's hospital treating seriously ill toddler Alfie Evans say they have suffered "unprecedented personal abuse".

In an open letter, Sir David Henshaw, chairman of the Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, and chief executive Louise Shepherd said the events of recent weeks had "deeply affected" staff.

An angry mob tried storm the hospital after a European court overruled yet another appeal for his release on Monday.

The statement came as three Court of Appeal judges rejected the latest plea from Tom Evans and Kate James after their son came off life support on Monday.

The chairman's letter read: "Alfie Evans has deeply affected us all at Alder Hey.

"There isn't one member of our staff untouched by his desperate story, the facts of the case and the publicity surrounding it.

Protesters returned for a second day despite pleas for calm by the hospital
Getty Images

"All of us feel deeply for Alfie and his whole family and we continue to do everything we can to support them as best we can, just as we have for the last 17 months.

"Yet in the last two weeks we have found ourselves at the centre of a social media storm that has included many untrue statements about our work and the motivations of our staff.

Alfie Evans protesters try to storm hospital 23/04/2018

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"This has led to often inappropriate interventions from a range of external bodies and individuals, some of which have caused significant disruption to our children, families and staff.

"As a leading children's healthcare provider, described by Justice Hayden, who heard the detailed evidence in Alfie's case, as providing care that 'can only be properly characterised as world class', we share the heartbreak that occurs when a child cannot be cured and when a child dies.

Alfie Evans' father Tom Evans speaks to reporters outside Alder Hey children's hospital
Good Morning Britain

"Our expert professional and compassionate clinical teams always work closely with parents and families in these difficult and distressing circumstances to provide support and comfort in a way that is sensitive to their needs.

"Our nursing, medical and support staff come into work each day at Alder Hey determined to do the best for our patients and those who care for them.

"Justice Hayden has also commented upon the 'diligent professionalism of some truly remarkable doctors and the warm and compassionate energy of the nurses whose concern and compassion is almost tangible'.

"Unfortunately, these same remarkable staff have recently been the target of unprecedented personal abuse that has been hard to bear.

"As an organisation, we have endured attacks upon our motivation, our professionalism and our ethics.

"Our staff have received in person, via phone calls, email, and through social media channels a barrage of highly abusive and threatening language and behaviour that has shocked us all.

"Worse still, patients and visitors to Alder Hey have also reported abuse. We are truly grateful to Merseyside Police for their unstinting support.

"This has helped us maintain our focus on safeguarding Alfie's comfort, dignity and privacy, which remains our first priority."

Judges have heard that Alfie, born on May 9 2016, is in a "semi-vegetative state" and has a degenerative neurological condition doctors have not definitively diagnosed.

Specialists say his brain has been "eroded", but his parents, who are in their 20s and from Liverpool, insist their son is not experiencing pain or suffering.

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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