Alfie Evans’ dad in furious blast at Alder Hey doctors who he accuses of ‘hating’ him
The stricken toddler's parents failed in a last-ditch legal bid to take Alfie to Italy for treatment after receiving support from Pope Francis
ALFIE Evans' dad has hit out at Alder Hey doctors - claiming they "look down" on the family as they fight to keep their son alive.
Tom Evans, 21, claimed docs at the hospital treated his family like "criminals" as it was today reported Liverpool NHS staff have been warned to hide their uniforms after staff at the tot's hospital received "unprecedented personal abuse".
Speaking out this afternoon, the desperate dad said staff even hide in cubicles to avoid his family, saying: "They hate us. They don't like us because I've fought against them for so long and I'm right."
"They hate us. They don't like us because I've fought against them for so long and I'm right."
According to the Daily Mail, he added: "We're not like them. We walk around the corridors and they pop into other cubicles to avoid us. They give us some horrible smug look as if we're in the wrong. It's like we're criminal and we're being looked down on."
Tom Evans and partner Kate James today revealed they would be dropping their legal battle to have 23-month-old son Alfie taken to Italy for possible diagnosis and treatment - and instead simply wanted to take him home.
Pressure around the sick tot's treatment has continued to boil today, with Alfie's dad Tom saying his son could live for years, despite the family losing their latest court battle.
The family have been fighting a legal battle for months to have their son Alfie, who is suffering from an unknown degenerative brain condition, flown to Italy for a possible diagnosis and treatment, but today accepted it would not be possible after the Court of Appeal refused their last-ditch plea.
Speaking this morning, Tom, 21, said: "We could take it further, but would it be the right thing to do, would people give me more criticism.
"So what we do today, is we have a meeting with doctors at Alder Hey and we now start asking to go home."
But the dad is still not without hope for his son's future, adding: "As I sit next to Alfie's bedside, every second of every day, it encourages me more and more that he will live for 'x' amount of months, possibly years."
It is understood that the family will be having a meeting with Alder Hey doctors this afternoon.
Pointing out that his son was taken off life support three days ago and still clinging to life, he praised his partner Kate James, saying: "Alfie’s fought through the night the last two nights because he’s been lying on her chest nonstop. And him and his mum have become closer now more than ever before."
Saying that it was the love of Kate and Alfie that kept him going, Tom said that if today's meeting with the hospital did not go well, he would be willing to go back to court to fight for his son.
He said: "I cannot explain how blessed I am to have Alfie and Kate in my life. That's what keeps me fighting."
But he said that his son's survival was not a "miracle", saying that he had always struggled to believe the toddler was suffering from a neurological disease.
It comes after Tom and partner Kate James last night kept a bedside vigil next to their son, with the mum posting the poignant clip of little Alfie with the words: "My whole entire world I love you so much baby boy".
The clip was shared just hours after Appeals Court judges ruled the tot would not be flown to Italy.
Protesters have continued to gather outside the children's hospital yesterday and today, reportedly blocked from entering the hospital amid claims from a family friend that "disgusting" doctors had mistreated sick Alfie.
Alfie has been in a "semi-vegetative state" for more than a year and is currently only receiving oxygen after being taken off life support on Monday following a series of court rulings.
Doctors argued that it was in the little boy's best interest to end his life support rather than be taken to Italy — a view repeatedly backed by the courts.
Latest on the Alfie Evans case:
- Alfie Evans' parents lose Appeal Court bid this week to overturn decision stopping the tot being taken to Italy for treatment
- Mum Kate James claims Alfie is "struggling and needs immediate intervention"
- Alder Hey's staff and docs subjected to a "barrage" of abuse, hospital bosses say
- Rumours on social media calling for hospital to be stormed last night as dad Tom postpones statement as parents keep bedside vigil beside their son
- Appeal Court judge calls for investigation into the "darker side" to some offers of support given to parents of terminally ill children
- The Pope put a military air ambulance on standby in an attempt to have the 23-month-old boy be flown to the Vatican
- Alfie, diagnosed with a brain condition, had his life support removed at 9.17pm on Monday and has been since been put on oxygen
- Dad Tom Evans tried to privately prosecute three doctors for conspiracy to murder his son, court is told
- Judge says there is "virtually nothing left" of Alfie's brain
Last night Merseyside Police warned supporters of Alfie's family that their social media posts are being monitored over reports that Alder Hey doctors are being hit with abuse.
Ch Insp Chris Gibson said: "Any offences including malicious communications and threatening behaviour will be investigated and where necessary will be acted upon".
And an open letter from the heads of Alder Hey said their staff had been subjected to a "barrage" of abuse both online and in person.
Chairman Sir David Henshaw and chief executive Louise Shepherd wrote: "In the last two weeks we have found ourselves at the centre of a social media storm that has included many untrue statements about our work and the motivations of our staff.
"This has led to often inappropriate interventions from a range of external bodies and individuals, some of which have caused significant disruption to our children, families and staff."
And Appeal Court judge Lord Justice McFarlane called for an investigation into the "darker side" to some offers of support given to parents of terminally ill children.
Responding to last night's judgement, a spokesperson for Alder Hey said: "We note today’s ruling from the Appeal Court which has rejected both applications to take Alfie to Italy.
"Our top priority is to continue to provide Alfie with the care he deserves and to ensure his comfort, dignity and privacy are maintained at this time."
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