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My deep shock: consultant breaks silence on Baby P
Robert Mendick, Rashid Razaq and Jack Lefley19.11.08
THE hospital consultant accused of failing to spot Baby P's broken back today told of her devastation.
Dr Sabah Alzayyat, 52, spoke out for the first time to insist that she has devoted her career to treating children.
She also told of her "deep shock" over the 17-month-old toddler who died at his north London home two days after she examined him.
The consultant paediatrician remains the only person to lose their job despite the failures that led to the boy suffering months of abuse and neglect at the hands of his mother and two men.
Her contract was terminated after she decided against a full medical examination of Baby P because he was "miserable and cranky". A post-mortem revealed that among scores of injuries he had a broken back.
Dr Alzayyat last night made a rare appearance in public, leaving her home in Ilford to collect her husband from the airport. She said in a statement: "Like everyone involved in this case, I have been deeply affected by the shocking and tragic circumstances of this young child's death. My professional career has been devoted to the care of children. I will cooperate with any investigation to identify whether lessons can be learnt from this case, but I feel it would be inappropriate to provide any further comment to the press at this time." The statement was issued through the Medical Protection Society, which provides professional indemnity for doctors.#
Dr Alzayyat refused to comment further but her husband Nasim Osmani Subhi, a consultant obstetrician working in Ireland, said: "It's too upsetting for us to talk right now. It is a difficult time. We would like to be left alone."
Dr Alzayyat faces a General Medical Council investigation. Her contract with Great Ormond Street Hospital was terminated in May, nine months after Baby P's death.
The children's hospital runs the child development centre at St Ann's Hospital in Tottenham to which Baby P was taken by his mother on 1 August last year. The mother, 27, her boyfriend and their lodger face lengthy jail terms after being convicted of causing or failing to prevent the toddler's death.
Dr Alzayyat, from Saudi Arabia, trained in Pakistan and Ireland. She is understood to be contesting the decision to effectively sack her. She is still free to work in the NHS but only if supervised pending the GMC inquiry. It is not thought she is working at the moment.
GP Jerome Kaine Ikwueke put paediatricians on "full alert" after Baby P was brought to him covered in bruises in December 2006, it emerged today. He refused to believe claims from the boy's mother that there were innocent explanations. The doctor sent him to Whittington hospital with a note saying: "He presents with an unexplained haematoma over the front of the skull. Bruises right shoulder, right breast and sternum and two-inch frontal haematoma with bluish colouration on the front of nose. Full alert. Thanks." The hospital agreed the injuries were "non accidental" and social workers were alerted. Despite being put on a protection register the boy died eight months later.
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I find it impossible to believe a docotr would have missed the broken back.
The baby was paralised from waist down if a child is cranky and therefore at 17 months ( trust me I'm a mother of three) likely to throw a paddy they kick, they wiggle, they arch their back. Even without a paddy the baby was being supprted by mother and friend that child would have wanted to wiggle and move what 17 month old doesn't?
How on Earth can you miss the lack of movement - she dealt with children on a daily basis??!!!'
The mother will have an interesting time in jail - I hear that jailbirds have their standards. Although I can't condone that, can't say I hold an sympathy for her either.
- Lisa,, Nottingham, England
In Sweden there are VERY strong laws against childabuse. I find it strange that UK do not have stronge laws against childabuse and bad parents. The children are in focus - not the family as in this case, when they let the mother have Baby P again. It is a big story in Sweden about Baby P and UK laws. Awful stoy and I feelt really sick when I read about the poor kid. Go for stronger laws to protect kids!
- Isabella, Malmoe SWEDEN
All involved need to stop blaming each other and start taking responsibility for their lack of action.
RIP Baby P X
- Louise Copeland, London
