A heartbroken mother was told her eight-month-old daughter's illness was 'just a virus' before she died in hospital, an inquiry has heard.
Lauren Adger, 37, was left devastated following the death of her daughter Fearne after she had been treated at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.
Mrs Adger and her husband, David, 57, had been referred to the hospital over concerns their daughter was not eating or drinking properly and having issues passing fluids in the days before her death on April 29, 2017.
Fearne was admitted to hospital the day before she died but became 'lethargic' and began breathing rapidly while on a ward.
Medics raced her away and performed CPR and administered shocks in a bid to restart her heart, but were unsuccessful.
A fatal accident inquiry at Paisley Sheriff Could has heard Mrs Adger insist Fearne would still be alive if she had been given IV fluid for dehydration.
The bereaved mum, of Paisley, singled out Dr Peishan Wu, a medic who had been in charge of Fearne's care in hospital, for allegedly telling her Fearne's condition was 'just a virus' hours before her condition deteriorated.
Mrs Adger told the inquiry she had been singing to Fearne when she suddenly began breathing 'quickly' and went limp.
She said nurses rushed her away for treatment leaving her in a 'state of panic' and screaming her daughter's name.
Giving a prepared statement to the inquiry, Mrs Adger added: "After Fearne died it was clear to me that there were failings in her care at the RAH.
"I had told staff repeatedly about her nappies being dry and her being lethargic and had asked about the possibility of IV fluids.
"But I was told she was not showing signs of clinical dehydration and that it was just a virus.
"Those words 'just a virus' will stay with me forever and the way Dr Woo said them will stay with me forever.
"I was a first-time mum and I put my trust in the medical staff.
"I didn't know what was normal for a baby with a stomach virus, but looking back, it is sickening that my baby was forced to suffer with no-one trying to help."
Mrs Adger said she 'strongly' believed her daughter had been 'let down' by the hospital.
She added: "I struggle every day with what happened to Fearne and I feel that the fact it was not just one mistake but a catalogue feels unbearable.
"My precious girl was everything to me and we went to the RAH for help but were made to feel like a nuisance.
"When she was admitted we finally felt she was getting the care she needed, but months later we discovered the doctor responsible for her care for a full shift didn't check in on Fearne once and her drip was removed without examination or consideration to how much fluids she had outputted.
"This mistake is very difficult to live with and Dr Wu's failure to enter the room to me is unforgivable."
Speaking of her loss, Mrs Adger, who now has two other children, told the virtual hearing: "It is impossible to put into words how special and amazing Fearne was or how loved she is.
"The loss of her was horrendous and it feels like she was robbed of her life, a life which I hoped would have been happy and fulfilling."
Mr Adger, a marine electrician, told the inquiry of his heartache at his daughter's death.
He said: "Fearne's death has had a huge impact on my life, it has changed me as a person.
"I'm glad the FAI is happening. All we want is the truth for Fearne."
Fearne's family raised £3,800 for Scottish Cot Death Trust by climbing Ben Nevis in 2019 in tribute to her.
Sheriff Principal Donald Murray offered his 'sincere condolences' to the Adger family before the start of the hearing.
The inquiry, which was ordered by the Lord Advocate, continues.
