'I was going to work and I just burst into tears on the train... I stayed in bed all day, crying'

Officials have apologised to a grieving father who missed an inquest which found serious failings by hospital staff into the care of his poorly son. Lee Rawlinson wasn't told about the hearing into the death of his 12-year-old son due to an 'administrative error'.

Mr Rawlinson only learned of coroner's conclusion, that crucial delays in treating his critically-ill son, who was born with heart problems, contributed to the death in a report of the hearing in the Manchester Evening News.

Now devastated Mr Rawlinson has said he has received and accepted an apology for an 'administrative error' after being told work was underway by the court to ensure no other parent, particularly those who have separated, suffer the same experience.

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Otherwise fit and healthy, Joel was on his PlayStation at home in Middleton when he collapsed on Sunday night, December 29, 2019. When he was taken to North Manchester General Hospital that night, medics concentrated on trying to find out the cause of the problems instead of recognising how poorly he was so he could be moved to a specialist children's hospital, the inquest heard.

Joel had undergone successful major surgery weeks after his birth to repair a damaged aorta, the major artery coming from the heart. But the youngster, who recovered well and loved playing football for Middleton Lads, fell severely ill at home because of an aneurysm and later died in hospital of cardiac respiratory failure.

An internal NHS review of his death found medics should have discussed transferring him to a specialist children's hospital by 1am of December 30, the day after the collapse, but this