Joe Harker
The parents of an 11-year-old girl who died a few hours after doctors sent her home and diagnosed her with constipation have spoken of the 'gaping hole' her loss has left in their lives.
Annabel Greenhalgh's parents Craig and Josie took her to A&E at Warwick Hospital on 13 October, 2022, after the 11-year-old complained of abdominal pain.
She had previously suffered from previous episodes of abdominal pain between 2017 and 2021, requiring hospital treatment on multiple occasions.
By the evening of that day in October 2022 when her parents took her to A&E doctors had diagnosed Annabel with constipation and discharged her, sending her home.
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The next morning her dad found her unresponsive at their home and called an ambulance, with paramedics pronouncing her dead at the scene after being unable to resuscitate the girl.
An inquest into Annabel's death will begin tomorrow (14 June) at Coventry Coroners' Court, and her parents have released a statement ahead of it.
Her mum Josie said: "Annabel was an incredible child and loved by all who met her. She was gentle, phenomenally bright, creative, fun and always inclusive of everyone.
"She absolutely loved her music, her fashion, her art, her friends, and her beloved cat Reuben. She was our greatest gift and brought so much love, joy and happiness to our lives.
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"Since losing her, much of our days have been filled with distress, emptiness and sorrow."
The 11-year-old had been described as 'well loved' by her teachers and fellow pupils at Alcester Grammar School, where she had just started before she died.
Her parents hope the inquest will answer crucial questions about her treatment before she died.
Annabel's dad Craig said: "When we were told we could take Annabel home from hospital, we trusted that there was nothing serious going on.
"To wake up the next morning and find her unresponsive was absolutely devastating and something we still struggle to comprehend.
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"Every day since then, we’ve wondered if more could have been done to save our little girl. She was our only child and we still have so many unanswered questions around what happened to her.
"We know that hearing everything again at the inquest will be incredibly difficult, but it’s something we need to do to honour our daughter and get the answers we’ve been seeking for more than 18 months.
"Since losing Annabel, there’s been a gaping hole in our lives and we wouldn’t wish what we’ve suffered on anyone. She had just started secondary school and had her whole life ahead of her. Words cannot truly express how much we miss her."
Craig and Josie have instructed medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the tragedy.
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The family’s solicitor Emma Rush said: "Josie and Craig understandably remain devastated at losing their little girl so suddenly and tragically.
"They also continue to have a number of questions over what happened to her. While nothing can bring Annabel back, the inquest is a major milestone in being able to provide her family with the answers they deserve.
"If, during the course of the inquest any issues in the care provided to Annabel are identified, it’s vital that lessons are learned to improve patient safety."
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.