16 March 2023 , 08:46
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A family of a baby who suffered horrific second-degree burns from bleach and boiling water at nursery has been given a five-figure damages payout.
Blake Nilssen was just 10 months old when he passed out from the pain following the gruesome accident at Little Dreams Nursery in Aberdeen.
He had tried using a cleaning bucket, which had been left unattended, to pull himself to his feet on November 4 2021.
Staff at the nursery also covered him in paper towels which, when removed, ripped blisters from his skin which had started to form, reports the Daily Record.
Mum Ellie, 28, and dad Daryl, 32, were asked to collect Blake from the facility and heard "chilling" screams coming from their baby when they arrived.
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The shocked parents took Blake to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where he was placed in a special shower for 90 minutes that helped monitor his skin's pH levels.
Blake's family have now received a five figure payout (Digby Brown / SWNS)A plastic surgeon then burst the blisters and treated them with aloe vera gel before bandaging affected areas. Ellie says little Blake, now two, is still uncomfortable around liquids to this day.
She said: "At the time I said this incident was indefensible and I still feel that way. There really was a sense that it shocked parents all over the country. Many people reached out with concern and support.
"Thankfully Blake has responded well to medical treatment but his recovery is not over. We still see some signs of emotional trauma, especially around water, but we're hopeful he will calm over time and things can improve for him."
The care watchdog reportedly upheld multiple complaints against the nursery, with senior staff being subsequently reprimanded following the incident. A legal action against the nursery has now settled out-of-court with all compensation being set aside in a trust for Blake until he turns 16.
Ellie added: "I am still disappointed in the nursery's reaction to everything. Even when presented with evidence - like photos of my burned and blistered baby - they tried to deny or downplay their failings.
Blake suffered second-degree burns in the accident (Digby Brown / SWNS)"It took a legal action to get the answers we deserved and get Little Dreams to hold their hands up. This was never about the money which is why we've taken steps to have the compensation put in a trust for our son for when he's older.
"We're grateful to everyone who has helped us from friends and family, to NHS staff who treated Blake's injuries to our legal team who helped hold the nursery accountable. As a family we now just want to try and put this painful episode behind us and look forwards so we request that our privacy is now respected."
A legal investigation by Digby Brown Solicitors revealed policies and procedures at Little Dreams were not followed as they should have been. Lawyers also uncovered evidence that staff were not trained to the appropriate standard and risk assessments were not carried out.
Blake's bandaged legs after being burned (Digby Brown / SWNS)Details were confirmed in the Care Inspectorate investigation where the watchdog found staff gave "differing accounts of what happened", had "ineffective" supervision and criticised the nursery for response including failing to call an ambulance.
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Neil Davidson, Partner at Digby Brown Solicitors in Aberdeen, led the legal action for little Blake.
He, reported the Daily Record, said: "No parent should have to worry about the welfare of their child when placing them into the care of professionals so with this legal action we knew there were three key priorities. This included providing Blake with access to specialist medical care, providing Ellie and Daryl with answers and shedding a light on negligent care to improve standards for everyone.
"I sincerely hope parents and care providers everywhere consider the gravity of what happened in this very harrowing ordeal and take steps to ensure such incidents are never repeated."
The nursery told The Mirror: “This was an incident we have taken extremely seriously. As a local authority investigation into what happened is ongoing we cannot comment further, but we are of course giving this inquiry every support and assistance.”