Last updated 15:44, Saturday, 12 July 2008

A BABY endured 13 hours without food and water until a hospital bed could be found.

AT HOME: Jamie-Leigh with mum Abbie

The consultants at Furness General Hospital referred her to the Pendlebury hospital for an MRI scan on May 22.

Jamie-Leigh’s parents Abbie Dougan and Steven Thorley were told to give her a final feed at breakfast because she was due to be sedated.

“We had the appointment booked and half-an-hour before we set off to Manchester Pendlebury phoned to say we had a bed,” explained Miss Dougan, 20, of Devon Street, Barrow.

“When we got there we sat in the waiting room for four hours because they said there was no bed.

“By that time Jamie-Leigh had had nothing to eat since 8.15am. She had the scan at 9.30pm.

“Because she didn’t have a bed they couldn’t sedate her.”

After the MRI scan the hospital provided a bed for Jamie-Leigh rather than a cot, at which point the couple lodged an official complaint and took their daughter out of the hospital at 12.15am to spend the night with relatives in Manchester.

They then waited over six weeks for the results which arrived this week.

“They ended up coming through my door saying she had bleeding on the brain, but it’s all in doctor speak so I couldn’t understand it,” added Miss Dougan.

“She’s got to go back on July 23 for another scan to see if the bleeding has healed itself.

“I still haven’t got any idea what’s wrong with her. I don’t want any other parent to go through this.”

Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Trust would not confirm whether there had been a bed shortage on May 22.

A spokeswoman said: “Central Manchester and Manchester Children’s University Hospitals NHS Trust is unable to comment on specific cases due to patient confidentiality.

“However, if the family have any concerns, they can discuss them with any member of staff.

“We take all issues surrounding patient care very seriously.”