HUNDREDS of people are set to march through Newport city centre in protest against the four month suspension order given to a doctor who failed to diagnose blood poisoning in a Gwent baby who later died.
More than 500 people have responded to an invite on social networking site Facebook to march in memory of nine-month-old Aleesha Evans, from Bettws, who died in August 2006 just hours after she was discharged from the Royal Gwent by trainee specialist registrar Dr Salawati Abdul-Salam.
Last month a General Medical Council disciplinary panel hearing found Dr Adbul-Salam demonstrated a “serious degree of carelessness” when baby Aleesha’s mum Shiree Hanbury brought her daughter into the Royal Gwent on August 9, 2006 showing symptoms of meningococcal septicaemia.
Dr Abdul-Salam diagnosed a viral infection that required only Calpol and Nurofen, but Aleesha died of multiple organ failure as a result of blood poisoning.
The GMC hearing suspended Dr Abdul-Salam for four months, but campaigners will walk from John Frost Square to the Royal Gwent Hospital on April 30 to call for her to be struck off permanently.
Newport mum-of-three and organiser of the demonstration Stacie Routley said, who contacted Aleesha’s family after following the case in the Argus, said baby Aleesha’s mum Shiree and grandmother Karen Hanbury would be joining protesters on the day, and had been “overwhelmed” by the level of public support.
Miss Routley added: "We just want justice for that little girl so she can be left in peace."
The march, which will start at 12pm from John Frost Square.
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