Parents in care battle 'taken to hell and back'

MOST parents wouldn't think twice about taking their child to hospital if they had concerns about their health, but Paul and Lisa Hessey have lost all trust in the professionals.

In May last year, they were becoming increasingly concerned with the fussy eating of their 18-month-old son Zak and asked their family GP and health visitor for help.

Both were supportive and suggested the child could be suffering from autism and referred them to Chesterfield Royal Hospital where it was noted Zak wasn't eating.

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Mrs Hessey said doctors thought he was " delayed and showing autistic tendencies" and sent him home with a promise of further contact from community health workers.

But no help came, and on Saturday, June 6, Zak became very ill and was taken to hospital again, where doctors suggested he go on to a dairy-free diet.

Mrs Hessey, 28, said: "I told them I was a bit disappointed that nobody had contacted us, but they said to try this special diet, but also said that he should eat a lot of chocolate.

"I thought it was bit strange and after a couple of weeks it made no difference. The doctors then said they wanted him to go into hospital for a two-week feeding assessment."

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The couple agreed, but did not realise that once they handed their son over to the medics on July 10 it would be the last time he lived with them for more than four months.

After the assessment, the Hesseys expected to take him home.But they were hit by a devastating blow when social workers informed them that he would not return to the family's house in Bolsover, near Chesterfield, but would be taken into care.

The couple were told medics were worried that they were "negative" and were not feeding their son, despite the fact that other professionals had said he may be autistic. Mrs Hessey, a 28-year-old mother of five, who is expecting a sixth child at the end of this month, fought back tears as she told of the moment she realised what was happening.

She said: "It was on a Friday and there was nothing I could do until the Monday. We didn't know where he was.

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"We found out what was happening after our GP made a phone call on the Monday and social services said Zak's foster parents had taken him to Skegness. We didn't see him again till the Wednesday."

Zak's father Paul, 48, said he and his wife then had to engage solicitors to fight Derbyshire County Council who refused to return their son until November 17 last year.

Since that date the council has continued to fight the family over Zak's care, but yesterday withdrew an application at Derby County Court, effectively clearing the couple.

Earlier this year, the family received an independent assessment which confirmed that Zak was autistic. He is now eating with the help of advice from the Autistic Society.

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Mr Hessey said the family were delighted that Zak was back with his brothers Wayne, 11, Jamie, nine, Callum, five, and his three-year-old sister Emily, but added: "I am furious".

"It has taken us a whole year to get him the proper help and we have been through hell for absolutely no reason. The authorities get away with too much. They think they are God."

The family now plan to launch legal action. Their solicitor, Stuart Bramley of Exeter-based Tozers, said: "Now that the care proceedings are finally over we can progress a civil claim for compensation, both for Zak himself and for his parents to reflect their entirely unnecessary separation.

Derbyshire County Council issued a statement saying workers always act in what they believe are "the best interests of the child". The hospital said: "We will always take action if we are concerned about a child – including how they are parented and cared for."Martin Slack

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MOST parents wouldn't think twice about taking their child to hospital if they had concerns about their health, but Paul and Lisa Hessey have lost all trust in the professionals.

In May last year, they were becoming increasingly concerned with the fussy eating of their 18-month-old son Zak and asked their family GP and health visitor for help.

Both were supportive and suggested the child could be suffering from autism and referred them to Chesterfield Royal Hospital where it was noted Zak wasn't eating.

Mrs Hessey said doctors thought he was " delayed and showing autistic tendencies" and sent him home with a promise of further contact from community health workers.

Hide Ad
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But no help came, and on Saturday, June 6, Zak became very ill and was taken to hospital again, where doctors suggested he go on to a dairy-free diet.

Mrs Hessey, 28, said: "I told them I was a bit disappointed that nobody had contacted us, but they said to try this special diet, but also said that he should eat a lot of chocolate.

"I thought it was bit strange and after a couple of weeks it made no difference. The doctors then said they wanted him to go into hospital for a two-week feeding assessment."

The couple agreed, but did not realise that once they handed their son over to the medics on July 10 it would be the last time he lived with them for more than four months.

Hide Ad
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After the assessment, the Hesseys expected to take him home.But they were hit by a devastating blow when social workers informed them that he would not return to the family's house in Bolsover, near

Chesterfield, but would be taken into care.

The couple were told medics were worried that they were "negative" and were not feeding their son, despite the fact that other professionals had said he may be autistic. Mrs Hessey, a 28-year-old mother of five, who is expecting a sixth child at the end of this month, fought back tears as she told of the moment she realised what was happening.

She said: "It was on a Friday and there was nothing I could do until the Monday. We didn't know where he was.

"We found out what was happening after our GP made a phone call on the Monday and social services said Zak's foster parents had taken him to Skegness. We didn't see him again till the Wednesday."

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Zak's father Paul, 48, said he and his wife then had to engage solicitors to fight Derbyshire County Council who refused to return their son until November 17 last year.

Since that date the council has continued to fight the family over Zak's care, but yesterday withdrew an application at Derby County Court, effectively clearing the couple.

Earlier this year, the family received an independent assessment which confirmed that Zak was autistic. He is now eating with the help of advice from the Autistic Society.

Mr Hessey said the family were delighted that Zak was back with his brothers Wayne, 11, Jamie, nine, Callum, five, and his three-year-old sister Emily, but added: "I am furious".

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"It has taken us a whole year to get him the proper help and we have been through hell for absolutely no reason. The authorities get away with too much. They think they are God."

The family now plan to launch legal action. Their solicitor, Stuart Bramley of Exeter-based Tozers, said: "Now that the care proceedings are finally over we can progress a civil claim for compensation, both for Zak himself and for his parents to reflect their entirely unnecessary separation.

Derbyshire County Council issued a statement saying workers always act in what they believe are "the best interests of the child". The hospital said: "We will always take action if we are concerned about a child – including how they are parented and cared for."

Fussy habits that point to autism

Zak Hessey's parents said their son would only eat if different foods were kept separate and would only eat his meals from certain pieces of crockery of certain colours.

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When eating toast he has to have it cut into tiny squares and will not eat mashed potato or any food which has been near mashed potato. He likes to line toys up in regimented patterns.

All these tendencies, according to experts, indicate that a child may be suffering from an "autistic spectrum disorder" which leads them to struggle to make sense of the world around them.