A distressed mother made a frantic 999 call after her 12-year-old son, who suffers from a rare genetic condition, was left without a hospital bed for three agonising days. The boy, who has Cohen syndrome, requires constant medical attention but was denied admission due to a severe shortage of paediatric beds.
"They told me there were no beds"
The mother, from Weston-super-Mare, described the heart-wrenching moment when multiple hospitals turned her son away. "He was deteriorating rapidly, but every A&E we went to said they couldn't help," she revealed. "At one point, I just sat on the floor of the hospital corridor and sobbed."
What is Cohen syndrome?
- Rare genetic disorder affecting 1 in 1 million
- Causes developmental delays and vision problems
- Patients often require lifelong care
The family's ordeal highlights the growing crisis in children's healthcare services across the UK. NHS data shows paediatric bed occupancy regularly exceeds 95% capacity, leaving vulnerable children at risk.
"The system failed us"
After 72 hours of desperate calls and hospital visits, the boy was finally admitted to Bristol Children's Hospital. "The staff were amazing once we got in," the mother said, "but no family should have to fight this hard to get basic care."
An NHS spokesperson acknowledged the "extreme pressures" on services and urged families in crisis to continue seeking emergency care when needed.
