Three-year-old Samuel Starr died in his parents' arms after ‘computer glitch’ at hospital

Samuel Starr died in the arms of his parents at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children in September 2012 (Ben Birchall/PA)

A three-year-old died in his parents’ arms at a hospital that has been heavily criticised over its paediatric cardiac services after an apparent computer glitch meant he missed vital check-ups, an inquest has heard.

Samuel Starr had heart surgery when he was nine-months old at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and was thought to have been recovering well.

But a new computer system at a second hospital, the Royal United in Bath, failed to generate appointment slots for him and he did not receive follow-up treatment for 20 months.

By the time he was seen, he was judged to need further surgery but suffered complications after that procedure and suffered a stroke and cardiac arrest, the inquest in Flax Bourton, near Bristol, heard.

Ben Peregrine, the speciality manager for paediatrics at the RUH, in Bath, said: “Samuel’s appointment request must have fallen through the cracks between the old and new system.”

Samuel’s inquest, which continues, is the fourth in a series of hearings examining deaths of young heart patients at hospitals in Bristol.

PA