THE parents of a child left severely brain damaged by a blunder at a Worcester hospital have slammed an NHS decision not to screen babies for jaundice.

The family of Vasili Kalisperas of St John's, Worcester, are dismayed about Public Health England’s decision not to screen babies at risk of a catastrophic and preventable type of brain damage and say lives will be put at risk as a result.

Vasili Kalisperas was born at Worcestershire Royal Hospital on May 18, 2012.

His father Michael Kalisperas nicknamed him ‘Spartan’ because of his strength, a story previously covered in the Worcester News.

The nickname quickly took on a new meaning when, two days later, Vasili returned to the hospital, unaware he was about to face a fight for his life.

He became severely ill after a student midwife who visited the family alone at their Highfield Road home did not follow guidelines when he was showing symptoms of jaundice.

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust has admitted liability for his illnesses, saying it was deeply sorry for the mistakes which left Vasili with cerebral palsy, virtually blind, deaf and with diagnosed kernicterus, a form of brain damage.

In a statement released online on August 3, Public Health England said the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) had found there was insufficient evidence for a national screening programme for kernicterus.

Michael Kalisperas' son Vasili was at high risk of kernicterus after developing jaundice within 24-hours of his birth.

Mr Kalisperas is now petitioning Prime Minister Theresa May to reverse the decision by Public Health England.

Mr Kalisperas said: “I am devastated by this decision, how many more children and families have to have their lives devastated before the NHS takes preventing kernicterus seriously? Screening could have saved my son and many others yet they have been left severely disabled for the rest of their lives.

“As parents you trust that the healthcare professionals who see your baby know what they are doing.

"For us that trust was betrayed in one of the worst possible ways as the advice we were given was completely wrong and basic mistakes were made.

"A screening programme could help to prevent the mistakes that continue to be made.”

Eddie Jones, head of medical negligence at JMW who is handling four-year-old Vasili’s medical negligence case against Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Vasili’s case is far from an isolated example and we continue to see the same mistakes being made in different parts of the country.

"There does not appear to be any kind of joined up approach by the NHS to ensure NICE guidelines are followed everywhere and this is what screening could have achieved.

“The cost to these families and the NHS in compensation payments so they can cope with the severe disabilities is huge. This decision is a huge blow and lives could be put at risk as a result.”

Kernicterus is caused by high levels of a substance called bilirubin which causes jaundice but is treatable with phototherapy or a blood transfusion.

The key is to test the baby and refer for treatment when bilirubin reaches a certain threshold but midwives do not always realise how serious jaundice can be for babies.

Dr Anne Mackie, Director of Programmes for the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC), said: “There is no clear evidence that offering a national screening programme would help find babies at risk of developing kernicterus.

“Although tests can measure the level of bilirubin in the blood, it does not make it clear whether the baby would develop kernicterus.

“In addition, while current treatment options have been shown to reduce bilirubin levels, it is not known whether these are effective in preventing the condition.”

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust was unavailable for comment.

To sign the Kalisperas family’s petition to reverse the decision about kernicterus screening go to www.change.org/p/theresa-may-mp-reversal-of-decision-kernicterus-affects-normal-children-its-wholly-preventable