Cut foreign aid to fund vaccine, says tragic mum

Meningitis claimed her 10-year-old and led to dad’s fireball suicide.

A mum whose family was ripped apart when her 10-year-old son died of meningitis wants the Government to raid its foreign aid budget to fund a vaccination programme.

William Cressey, 10, lost his life after bungling medics repeatedly failed to diagnose his condition, despite desperate pleas from mum Cheryl.

Last September Cheryl’s devastated dad Ronald Bamlett, 74, laid 12 roses at his grandson’s grave before parking his car and setting himself on fire in a grief-stricken suicide.

But now campaigners, including Cheryl, are celebrating after the Department of Health recommended the meningitis B vaccine Bexsero be made available on the NHS.

But routine immunisation with the drug will only happen if it can be bought at the right price, and Cheryl believes the Government should dip into the £11bn foreign aid budget.

Cheryl, 52, of Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees, said: “Our Government is so generous with overseas aid but penny pinching when it comes to protecting our own children against meningitis.

“Do our own children not deserve at least as much financial investment into their health and wellbeing as children overseas?

“I am not against overseas aid but there needs to be balance, and when we have an opportunity to protect a nation from a killer we should grasp that opportunity with both hands, and if that means pulling in funds from another kitty, then that is what we should do.

“It would take only a fraction of the overseas aid budget to protect every child from meningitis. We could have an entire nation completely protected within months.”

William died at Darlington Memorial Hospital in 2005 after a catalogue of shocking errors and missed chances to save his life.

Cheryl had brought him in into A&E on a Sunday night worried he was displaying symptoms of meningitis.

He was admitted for the night but vital checks for the disease were not carried out and he was discharged at 6pm the following day.

He soon collapsed at home writhing on the floor and she rushed him back to the hospital as his condition deteriorated.

But even when meningitis was diagnosed blundering medics delayed giving him antibiotics as the terrified youngster pleaded for help.

It took five years for the hospital to apologise for the catalogue of errors and pay damages.

Cheryl claimed the vaccination programme must be rolled out to all children as well as babies to prevent similar tragedies from happening.

She added: “Although starting with infants, and providing them with a lifetime of protection is an excellent start, we still have generations of children and young adults who are vulnerable and unprotected.”

Professor John Watson, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, said: “Infants under one year of age are most at risk of MenB and the number of cases peak at around five or six months of age.

“With early diagnosis and antibiotic treatment, most youngsters make a full recovery.

“But it is fatal in about one in 10 cases and can lead to long-term health problems such as amputation, deafness, epilepsy and learning difficulties.

“We will now be working closely with Novartis in the coming months and if

negotiations are successful, we hope to work with the other UK health departments to introduce a vaccine to prevent MenB as quickly as possible.”

A Department of Health spokesperson said: “We want the immunisation programme to begin as soon as possible but we owe it to children to make sure it is launched properly with a reliable supply of vaccine and when the NHS is best able to deliver it effectively.”