West Country Heart

A teenager with a hole in the heart says she has been told she cannot have surgery to correct it unless she has a stroke or heart attack.

Carla Maclean from Gloucester says her symptoms are getting so bad she cannot work and is now trying to raise funds to have the operation privately.

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust says it offers "**sincere condolences" to Rohan Rhodes’ family.

The trust says it has put in place 'clear requirements' for blood gas measurements in babies on respiratory support and has implemented a system of safety checking for medical and nursing staff looking after individual babies.

More: Narrative verdict in Rohan Rhodes inquest

The Coroner in the inquest of baby Rohan Rhodes, who died at St Michael's Hospital, says there were "lost opportunities" in his care.

Rohan, who was born 15 weeks premature in Wales, died after being removed from a ventilator after being transferred to St Michael's in Bristol.

Flax Bourton Coroner's Court heard the medical team's plan was to keep Rohan on the ventilator ahead of upcoming heart surgery.

But advanced neonatal nurse Amanda Dallorzo took the "autonomous" decision to remove the machine and put a breathing mask on Rohan instead.

His condition deteriorated and he developed NEC, a gastrointestinal disease, which required surgery.

He never became stable for the operation and he died, aged just 36 days.

Avon Coroner Maria Voisin recorded a narrative verdict following a three day inquest into Rohan's death.

A victim of the heart babies scandal at Bristol hospitals has been awarded half a million pounds in compensation.

The man in his 20s, who can't be named, was left with lifelong disability after a specialist at Bristol Children's Hospital failed to diagnose the heart defect he had as a baby.

The pay out was approved by a judge at the High Court. More than 30 babies died and dozens more were left with brain damage after failures by doctors in the late 1980s and early 90s.

An 11 year old Cornish girl has saved her dad's life using first aid tips she learned from the St John Ambulance.

Maria Rowe managed to start her dad John breathing again after he collapsed at their home in Redruth. He'd had a heart attack, but her cool head saved the day.