Toddler, 1, with cancer was 'almost overdosed twice by hospital' as family say 'it was a bad dream'

A family claim their toddler was almost overdosed twice at a leading children's that made "several" mistakes whilst treating him for .

Dad Paul Stanulis, 38, and mum Nicole Dorman, 35, say their son Rio Stanulis was turned away from ’s Hospital for Sick Children and then diagnosed with a neuroblastoma - a form of - just weeks after being told nothing was wrong. The 17-month-old had a number of serious complications since birth, but the parents claimed the hospital provided sub-standard care multiple times throughout. The couple claim Rio was denied pain relief after operations, picked up deadly norovirus, and was nearly overdosed twice - issues they have put down to understaffing at the hospital.

When Rio was born on November 9, 2023, he was rushed into emergency surgery and given a stoma due to severe issues with his digestion. Mum Nicole said: “He was in theatre for three-and-a-half hours. I didn’t know if Rio was going to live or die at that moment. When the couple next got to see their little boy he was hooked up to machines". Paul added: "It was like a bad dream.”

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Since then, the toddler has developed spinal problems, a hole in his oesophagus and cardiac defects, including two holes in his heart. Three months later, Paul and Nicole were told the tot had a rapid growing cancer called neuroblastoma in the main blood vessels of his left kidney, which had grown to 10cm. The couple claim that after one chemotherapy session, a nurse attempted to give Rio 10 times the required amount of Trimethoprim - an antibiotic to prevent bladder infections.

He had been prescribed 0.5ml of the drug, but Nicole noticed the syringe the nurse was about to give Rio had 5ml in it. The mum said: “She said it was the correct amount but I asked her to go and check again. She went out the room and then just came back in and threw it in the bin. When Paul came up an hour later he took it out the bin, it didn’t even have a mark for 0.5ml in it.”

Paul added: “They were in denial but we had the syringe to prove it. But we were just palmed off, it was never mentioned again. The only thing that was ever said to us was ‘mistakes happen, we’re all human’.”

According to the couple, Rio was denied pain relief after a surgery to remove the tumour in August last year. He was on a low dose of morphine which had to be given alongside a saline drip to prevent the morphine congealing in the line. Paul said: “About 8.30am I said to the nurse his line was almost completely empty and that someone needed to sort out his pain relief.”

In December, the tot went back to the hospital, this time for throat surgery. Nicole and Paul were unwell with norovirus so his granny Grace Kilna, 63, took Rio into hospital. She advised the staff about his parents’ illness but was told he appeared okay, and the surgery to open up his narrow throat went ahead. Paul said: “Rio ended up with norovirus as well, but he was put back on a ward with other patients.

“He had been on medication following his surgery on December 22 but was getting weaned off his morphine, because by January 2 he was still unconscious. At first they tried to take him off too quick and he started getting withdrawal symptoms, so they had to put him back on. When he was returned to the normal ward they were bringing it down gradually and then a nurse tried to administer double the dose he was supposed to have.”

Knowing the dose was too high, Paul kept a hold of the syringe and received an apology the next morning - with staff reassuring him it would be recorded on the datix - an incident and risk reporting system. During the same hospital stay, they said a doctor made nine attempts to insert a cannula into the tot.

Grace said: “The doctor didn’t even use numbing cream because he said it didn’t work. Rio was crying and screaming. They are only supposed to try twice. They don’t seem to have any compassion for him.”

After undergoing another operation last week, Rio wasn't given any other painkilling medication until almost 10 hours had passed. Tortured by pain, the toddler pulled out his catheter, which meant he needed a further operation that morning.

Paul said: “After seeing other stories about babies being overdosed or left without pain relief I am sorry I didn’t make a complaint before now.” Nicole added: “I just don’t want the same things happening to any of my children or anyone else’s children.” Granny Grace added: “To me it is all down to understaffing. The nurses are overworked and underpaid.”

Dr Claire Harrow, Deputy Medical Director for Acute Services at NHSGGC, said: “While we cannot discuss the details of any individual patient’s care, we have reviewed the treatment provided to baby Rio. “We understand that his family have experienced some distress during their time with us. However, our review has shown there is no evidence to support a number of the claims made here.

“We are keen to meet Rio’s parents to discuss their concerns and any misunderstandings in more detail and we would encourage them to contact us so we can arrange a suitable time.”