HEALTH chiefs have revealed there will NOT be an inquiry into the death of tragic tot Lewis Jackson.

The 21-month-old Clitheroe baby died after his parents were forced to take him 85 miles to the nearest intensive care bed in Stoke-on-Trent.

Bosses at North West Regional Health Authority have no plans to hold an investigation into why no specialist intensive care treatment was available for Lewis in the North West - despite demands by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans. But the Lancashire Evening Telegraph can reveal that the authority is probing the similar case of a Stockport youngster. Nicholas Geldard was shuttled around several hospitals in the search of intensive care before he died in St James (Jimmy's) in Leeds.

A spokeswoman for North West Regional Health Authority said today: "At the moment there is no plan to hold an inquiry into Lewis's death. Questions are being asked about intensive care provision in the region.

"There was no intensive care bed available for him in Manchester or Liverpool because the specialist hospitals were under enormous pressure.

"But the North West map is not a barrier which prevents us sending patients out of the region for treatment when they desperately need it. "There is an inquiry ongoing into the death of Nicholas Geldard and maybe some lessons can be learned from that case."

She said talks were going on with purchasing health authorities to combat shortages of intensive care for youngsters.

Lewis, of Monk Street, had been born with a genetic defect which slowed his development.

He fell into a coma and died at the Stoke-on-Trent hospital after he was taken there by his parents Helen and John.

Nigel Evans has written to Sir Donald Wilson, chairman of North West Regional Health Authority, to call for a full investigation.

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