Parents of children treated at Sheffield Children’s Hospital’s ear, nose and throat (ENT) department in 2018 are being urged to come forward after our team uncovered the details of an investigation into surgical procedures performed there, which had been kept secret from families for years.
Small entry found in medical records
The revelations came to light when lawyers – reviewing medical records as part of a separate negligence claim – discovered a small entry about a covert probe into a consultant. The consultant had overseen the care of Kya Costellow (aged two at the time) after surgery to close a hole in her neck caused by a tracheostomy removal at Sheffield Children’s Hospital seven years ago.
This investigation – the full details of which only emerged over time and were not initially disclosed to parents Stuart and Kelly, who believed the treating consultant had saved their daughter’s life – revealed serious errors in medical care.
An airway issue was misdiagnosed
Confidential records from the General Medical Council (GMC) revealed the consultant misdiagnosed Kya’s airway issues and performed a procedure prematurely in breach of medical guidance. Concerns were also raised about the surgical techniques used and the standard of post-operative care. Other surgeons working at the hospital at the time strongly disagreed with the consultant’s approach, describing them as ‘negligent’, yet no action was taken against her.
A word from Kya’s parents
While the trust eventually contacted affected families in 2022, Kya’s parents say much of what they now know was pieced together after they began seeking legal advice and they still do not have a full understanding of what happened to their daughter.
Dad Stuart said: “When we first found out that information had been kept from us for years, we were devastated. At the time, we believed the consultant had saved Kya’s life, but now knowing errors were made is terrifying.
“What’s worse, however, is being kept in the dark about it and lied to – it’s unforgiveable. Medical professionals are only human and mistakes happen, but when things go wrong, the very least you expect is honesty.
“If we hadn’t pushed for answers, we would never have known the full extent of the investigation. The more we’ve uncovered, the more it feels like they tried to cover it up. Now, years later, we’re still facing the consequences.
“Kya has had to endure so much. She had to have her tracheostomy put back in after the operation was done too early, and then faced more complications we didn’t even know about. We didn’t know if we were going to lose her. Re-living everything has been incredibly difficult and we still don’t have a clear understanding of what happened to our daughter.
“I want Kya to have something to show for everything she’s been through. She’s a strong girl, but it’s been so hard to watch her struggle. We hope that others who’ve been through this get the justice they deserve, and that Kya gets justice too. We’re still in shock and we want answers.”
We’re calling for others affected to come forward
As representatives of the family, our team believes Kya may not be the only child affected, as heavily redacted documents point to multiple cases under review, and other families may also have been misled about their children’s treatment. We are calling on other parents whose children were treated at the hospital’s ENT department around the same time to come forward.
Wioleta Dworak, who is leading the claim with the assistance of Ikhira Thandi, said: “We do not believe this is an isolated incident. There are indications other children may have suffered harm due to substandard medical care. Had Kya’s parent not approached us about a separate issue, which led to us looking into her medical records, they may never have known the full extent of the investigation.
“While we understand the trust contacted families in 2022, the significant delay in doing so left parents without critical information for years. Families deserve full transparency regarding their child’s treatment and those responsible must be held accountable. We urge any parents who suspect their child may have been affected to seek legal advice and make their voices heard.”
Contact our medical negligence solicitors
If you believe your child may have been affected by treatment at Sheffield Children’s Hospital’s ENT department in 2018 or surrounding years, please contact our team on 0808 164 0808.
