Millie's Method to be introduced after girl's death

The father of a six-year-old girl who died following a routine bone marrow biopsy has welcomed steps to introduce a new safer method in her name.

Amelia Ridout died from "catastrophic internal bleeding" after the procedure went wrong while she was under general anaesthetic at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge in 2022.

The British Society for Haematology (BSH) confirmed it will develop a universal method to bring practices around bone marrow biopsies in line with today's standards, and it will be called Millie's Method in tribute to Amelia.

"We will never get Amelia back - but now her name will stand for change," her father, Matt Ridout, said.

"Millie's Method will be a permanent reminder to every clinician, every trust and every patient that safety must never be assumed - it must be guaranteed.

"No parent should ever be left wondering whether their child's life could have been saved by a better process.

"I'm grateful to the British Society for Haematology for taking this seriously and for honouring my daughter with real steps toward change."

The change came after the coroner investigating Amelia's death, Elizabeth Gray, said there should be national guidelines and standard operating procedures for the type of biopsy.

Ms Gray said Amelia died after the biopsy needle accidentally pierced blood vessels, which caused "massive, catastrophic bleeding internally".

The doctor who conducted the procedure noted a spurt of blood when removing the needle, but was told by a consultant there were no signs to raise concerns, according to the Prevention of Future Deaths report into the case.

Shortly afterwards, Amelia's pulse was lost, and medics tried to save her life.

It was assumed that she was suffering an internal bleed as a result of the procedure, and immediate surgery was needed, but she died on the operating table.

The BSH will also make recommendations for training staff conducting the procedure and develop a competency assessment.

It also said it would explore the possibility of developing a registry of complications to inform future guidelines.

Amelia had been diagnosed with suspected pancytopenia - a reduction in the number of the three main types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.

A Cambridge University Hospitals spokesperson said: "We remain deeply saddened by Amelia's death, and our sympathies and condolences are with her family.

"The trust is pleased for the family that they have succeeded in their ambition for a new initiative to be developed, named after their daughter."

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