Medics failed to question the father of Damion Russell about a bruise on his head
ByPhil McCann and Jonny HumphriesNorth West
The same hospital that failed to raise the alarm about Preston Davey's injuries before his death has been criticised in relation to another toddler who was also murdered by his father.
Thirteen-month-old Preston was sexually and physically abused by his adoptive father Jamie Varley, a Blackpool high school teacher, before he was killed on 27 July 2023.
Varley's trial prompted waves of revulsion from the public and an independent review is under way into how various agencies acted.
There are now calls to widen the investigation to examine the case of Damion Russell after medics at Blackpool Victoria Hospital failed to ask his father about an old bruise on his head.
Damion, two, was seen in June 2023 just one day before Preston's final of three visits to the hospital's A&E department.
Damion went on to be murdered by his father Daniel Hardcastle, 31, in August that year in what a court heard was a "horrifically violent" attack.
Daniel Hardcastle murdered his son Damion just three months after being granted sole custody
During Hardcastle's sentencing hearing at Preston Crown Court, a judge described how the boy, who died of a brain injury, was found to be "covered in injuries, top to toe and front to back" including an adult bite mark.
Hardcastle, who was jailed for life with a minimum term of 22 years in July 2024, had only recently been granted sole custody of his son.
In Damion's case, a safeguarding practice review in November found that medics spotted a bruise on the toddler's head but did not ask his father what had caused it, the Blackpool Lead reported, external.
The review, by Blackpool Safeguarding Children Partnership, said this did not fulfill the "expected practice".
In Preston's case Varley had convinced medics bruising on the youngster was accidental by showing them a video on his phone.
However, it was later revealed the video was recorded 12 days earlier and could not explain any fresh bruising.
Varley was convicted of murder and a raft of other charges including rape and hit with a whole life prison term last week - while his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley - was jailed for 25 years for allowing the death of a child and sexual offences.
Preston Davey died in July 2023, four months after being adopted
Both children had recently been taken from foster families and placed with the parents who murdered them.
Blackpool's coroners' service can look at whether there were wider causes of their deaths, but it said Damion's case was closed.
It has not made a decision on Preston's.
Blackpool South's Labour MP Chris Webb told the Blackpool Lead: "We need to do better, and we know that the state has been failing these young kids, young babies."
Webb, as well as Fylde MP Andrew Snowden, has called for a public inquiry into possible safeguarding failures linked to Preston Davey.
Hannah Joy Hocking, a friend of Damion's biological mother who has been assisting her with the process, said that any inquiry should include Damion.
"I've seen the news articles about Preston recently, and my brain instantly just went into thinking about Damion," Hocking said.
Hannah Joy Hocking has been helping Damion's mother with the aftermath of his death
"I think there should be a full inquiry, I completely agree with that and I feel like people need to stand up for these two little boys," she said.
"I feel like Preston's getting a lot of attention at the moment and I do feel like Damion got a little bit left behind."
The trust that runs Blackpool Victoria said it recognised "the importance of continuing to strengthen practice and provide reassurance to families" using its services.
It said "work was already under way before the review into Damion's case was published to support staff in the Emergency Department and in other areas where children are cared for", to make sure "appropriate examinations take place and staff are confident in asking the right questions".
It said it would "carefully consider" the evidence heard in the trial into Preston Davey's death.
Chief executive Maggie Oldham said: "Families bringing their children to our hospital can expect our teams to ask questions about any bumps, bruises or other injuries identified, whether recent or older.
"For babies who are not walking independently, our teams will carry out a full examination while they are in the Emergency Department."
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