Hospital 'failed to save' Baby P despite warnings

London: Great Ormond Street Hospital was criticised on Sunday for failing to prevent the death of Baby P after a doctor revealed she had warned of the risk of a tragedy a year earlier.

The world-famous hospital, which ran the clinic where a medic failed to spot Baby Peter's broken back, offered Dr Kim Holt £120,000 (Dh722,000) to remain silent about her complaints — but she has refused.

A NHS London report to be published this week into her case is expected to say the complaints "were well founded".

Dr Holt was removed from her post after she and three other doctors wrote to management in April 2006 warning of tragedy due to failings including staff shortages and poor record-keeping.

When Baby P was taken to St Ann's Hospital in Tottenham, North London, a year later he was seen by a locum who failed to spot his back was broken, due to a shortage of experienced consultants.

Two days later, the 17 month old was found dead with broken ribs, cuts to his head, a missing finger tip, broken teeth, and bruises.

His mother, her partner and a lodger have all been jailed for causing or allowing the child abuse to happen.

"They were in a panic [after Baby P]," Dr Holt told a Sunday newspaper of senior managers.

"They said I had to withdraw my allegation or the money was off the table. They were trying to buy my silence."

The 50 year old, who has 25 years' experience and three medical degrees, said she was prevented from returning to the clinic as she has refused to sign a statement saying all her concerns had been addressed.

"I am not going to be gagged. I must speak about this because it is so wrong," she added.

"If our concerns had been taken seriously at the time we raised them, then we could have prevented the death of Baby Peter."