A TOP medic has apologised after giving the all clear to an eight-year-old girl with a serious heart complaint minutes before she collapsed in the hospital grounds.

Chelsea McGuinn was carried by her father to the bus stop for the 10-mile journey home to Rawtenstall after being told there was nothing wrong with her.

Later she was re-admitted and transferred to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, where it was revealed her heart was only working to 12 per cent of its full capacity.

Now the plucky pupil of St Mary's CE primary school, Rawtenstall, faces a long period of treatment after it was also discovered she had blood and protein in her water, fluid in one of her lungs, a scarred underdeveloped kidney and an enlarged liver.

And today Burnley General Hospital apologised for failing to pick up on Chelsea's condition said it had tightened up procedures to ensure a similar situation did not occur again. A spokesman revealed the consultant concerned had spoken with and apologised to Chelsea's parents.

"Doctors do make mistakes - they are human beings and sadly a mistake was made in this instance," the spokesman added.

Chelsea's mum, Karen McGuinn, of Fallbarn Crescent, said: "It can't be right that she was sent home while seriously ill.

"I am very angry with the hospital, but Chelsea is our main concern and we won't be taking it any further."

Mrs McGuinn, 40, explained her daughter was discharged after 24 hours in Burnley General and collapsed outside.

Her husband carried Chelsea to the bus stop to get her home.

"We thought there was no point in taking her back into the hospital if they were just going to say there was nothing wrong with her again," Mrs McGuinn said.

The family has now organised a charity concert in aid of the children's hospital, to be held in Beaconsfield Conservative Club, Stacksteads, at 2.30pm on November 21, with several artists entertaining free of charge.

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