A FATHER is threatening legal action over claims his son was left sitting in a school corridor for 45 minutes with a broken knee.

Lee Woolley, 14, was hurt after chasing a classmate who accidentally slammed a door on his leg at Moorhead High School, Cromwell Street, Accrington.

He initially thought he wasn't badly hurt and only told staff about the injury an hour later, when he was checked by a first-aider.

Staff called his father David and asked him to come and take his son to hospital.

But Mr Woolley was furious staff refused to take Lee to casualty immediately.

By the time Mr Woolley and his wife Lorraine arrived by taxi 45 minutes later, Lee's leg was so swollen he could not get in the car and was taken by ambulance to Blackburn Royal Infirmary.

Today head teacher Andrew Bateman said Moorhead's policy was to call for an ambulance in emergencies and to call parents in non-urgent cases.

He said the first-aider checked Lee's leg as soon as he told them he was hurt and decided he needed medical help but that it was not an emergency.

Mr Woolley has now revealed that doctors found his son's kneecap was broken when they re-examined it four days after the accident, which happened two weeks ago, and Lee will be in plaster from thigh to toe for five weeks.

Mr Woolley, of Within Grove, Huncoat, who initially withdrew his children from the school, said he was sending them back because he was told he would be prosecuted if he didn't, but he is now seeking a new school for Lee and 12-year-old Jennifer.

He said: "I have said I will only send them back if I have reassurance that they won't be victimised because of what is going on."

Mr Woolley said X-rays have now shown the knee was broken. He now plans to sue the school for failing to care for Lee adequately and has spoken to lawyer Roberto Carassale, of Accrington solicitors Acklam Bond.

Mr Carassale said he was investigating the matter and intended to interview Lee's doctors, teachers and headteacher. He said any compensation was unlikely to be more than £1,000.

A Lancashire County Council spokesman, speaking on behalf of the school, said: "The school would clearly treat any fracture as serious injury requiring attention. However, it was by no means obvious at the time that the knee was broken and indeed this was only diagnosed by the hospital some days later once the swelling had reduced.

"Staff at the school acted responsibly when Lee's injury was reported and endeavoured to get him to hospital with a parent as soon as possible.

"We are sorry to hear about the extent of Lee's injury and the headteacher has already spoken to Mr Woolley regarding this matter."

The spokesman said schools formed their own policies on getting medical help with guidance from the education authority, and Moorhead High's was a common policy.

He said neither he nor the school could comment on the possible legal action.

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