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Eight-year-ol Boy Died After Being Taken To Worcestershire Hospital 21 Miles Away [VIDEO]

By Anne Collins | Update Date: Mar 08, 2017 10:29 PM EST

Callum Cartlidge, 8, suffered a cardiac arrest at home after his condition worsened. On Thursday, the paramedics were told to take him 21 miles to Worcestershire Hospital instead of nearby Alexandra Hospital in Redditch.

Callum was diagnosed with tonsillitis and a stomach ache on Feb. 28, where he was given antibiotics for treatment. The boy's mother, Stacey, from Redditch said Callum's condition got worse and on March 2 she called a GP that sent them to Worcestershire hospital. She called the ambulance immediately and they arrived five minutes after the call.

Callum was discharged at 11:00 p.m. and his mom was advised to give him Calpol. The next day, he collapsed and later died.

Sources claimed paramedics suspected Callum had developed sepsis and wanted to take him to Redditch at Alexandra Hospital which was just 1.9 miles away. West Midlands Ambulance Service said they were told not to take patients under 16 to Redditch, after Alexandra Hospital's children's inpatient services were moved and have stopped admitting children to A&E in September.

En route to the hospital, they performed life support throughout the 23-minute travel. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust offered its condolences to Callum's family according to BBC.

Callum's aunt, Anita Walsh, had set up a fundraising page to pay for Callum's headstone and a memorial garden. Writing on the Gofundme page, she said "My eight-year-old nephew Callum fell asleep in the afternoon and never woke up. I would like to make it possible for Callum's mom and dad to buy a headstone and make him a beautiful garden for his twin brother and family to visit."

NHS bosses said patients were transferred to Worcestershire Hospital as the Alexandra Hospital did not have the staff to ensure patient safety. After reviewing the case, NHS Trust said there was no doubt that the ambulance staff did absolutely everything to help Callum. A spokesman for Worcestershire Hospitals NHS Trust confirmed an investigation would be conducted, according to The Daily Star.

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