A schoolgirl told her mum "I don't want to die" after reportedly being turned away from Alder Hey Children's Hospital because of her age.
Danielle* (not her real name) was at home in Liverpool when she took an overdose on April 25. Danielle, 16, said she "instantly regretted" taking the tablets and phoned her mum, who took her to Alder Hey.
However, on arrival at the hospital, Danielle's family said they were told to take her to the Royal Liverpool Hospital instead due to her age.
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The 16-year-old's mum, who did not wish for her or her daughter to be named, told the ECHO: "I got a phone call off [my daughter] saying 'i've taken tablets.' 'I said stop now, don't take anymore. I'm on my way home'.
"I said 'you phone an ambulance while I'm waiting for a taxi - that way it will come quicker'. My sister ran around to [my daughter] because she only lives around the corner."
After speaking to the North West Ambulance Service, Danielle's family claim they were advised to take her to Alder Hey Children's Hospital. However, at the hospital, the family say they were told by a triage nurse to take Danielle to the Royal Liverpool Hospital instead because she was 16.
Danielle's mum said the nurse at reception went away and spoke to a consultant, before returning and pointing to a poster on the wall which outlined the hospital's age policy.
"It said something along the lines of 'we don't see patients over the age of 16 years old."
An Alder Hey spokesperson told the ECHO while they can't comment on individual cases, their emergency department can only offer treatment to young people under the age of 16. The ECHO understands this is due to issues surrounding insurance.
It's understood in other areas of the hospital treatment is offered in specific circumstances to young people up until the age of 18 as they prepare to transition into adult care. This often depends on the circumstances and might be due to continuing care and treatment that began before they turned 16.
Danielle's mum said: "The nurse said 'she's got a three hour window to get to the Royal'.
"At that time it was so serious. She'd taken quite a lot of tablets that you'd expect any hospital to see her.
"I was disgusted. I said 'the ambulance service said take her to you.' He said no we can't see her.
"It was [Danielle's] mental health that made her do it in the first place but then she's been turned away from a hospital which was making her more anxious. She said 'mum, I don't want to die.'
A spokesperson for North West Ambulance Service said: “We hope [name] continues to recover well after what must have been a very frightening experience. We would be happy to discuss the incident with her parents and invite them to contact our patient safety team so we can undertake a detailed investigation."
Mental health helplines and support groups
The following are helplines and support networks for people to talk to, mostly listed on the NHS Choices website
- Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you're feeling, or if you're worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
- CALM Campaign Against Living Miserably (0800 58 58 58) is a leading movement against suicide. It runs a UK helpline and webchat from 5pm to midnight 365 days a year for anyone who has hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support.
- PANDAS (0808 1961 776) runs a free helpline and offers a support service for people who may be suffering with perinatal mental illness, including prenatal (antenatal) and postnatal depression plus support for their family or network.
- Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won't show up on your phone bill.
Danielle's family took her to the Royal Liverpool Hospital by taxi, where she spent the following 36 hours receiving treatment before she was allowed home. The 16-year-old has since been seen by a mental health nurse and is now waiting to be referred for further support through the Young Person's Advisory Service.
Her mum added: "It should be made clear to people when they've got a 16 year old child which hospital do you attend. The longer you wait the higher risk of complications of liver failure.
"I was devastated and then I blamed myself for not being at home with her. You obviously blame yourself again and get more, and more worried, about what's going to happen in the time that you're waiting around getting passed from pillar to post to a different hospital."
Danielle said her daughter is well now but she also wanted to share her story to encourage others to "reach out for help if you feel the way I did." She added: "Things get better, I promise."
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