Story originally posted on 17 March 2010.

A member of the public has spoken of her disappointment at the tone of a recent report by the Birmingham Mail, which was subsequently re-reported in national newspapers.

The story concerned the accidental dripping of a tissue adhesive (glue) onto a young patient’s eyelashes during a minor procedure at the Selly Oak Hospital Accident and Emergency Department.

The reporting of the incident the prompted a member of the public to contact the Trust with a story of a similar incident which she had experienced.

“I am trying to get a message to the nurse who is described in the Daily Mail as 'bungling', the poor, unfortunate nurse who happened to make a mistake,” the message read..

“My daughter had her eye glued shut by a paramedic last year. Of course it was terrifying and traumatic. However, I completely understood that the paramedic had simply made a mistake, no permanent damage occurred and her eye opened after five days.

“In fact I believe more trauma was had by the paramedic. I just wanted to assure the nurse that of course it has happened before, and not to lose her confidence. Why these parents have gone to the papers is anyone’s guess. I wish people had more faith in the NHS. Two of my daughters have been seriously ill, one of them critical, and the NHS had always been fantastic in my experience.

“The parents should simply deal with it calmly and in the best interest of their child. Taking him to the papers to be photographed and being told there may be significant damage is hardly going to reassure a six-year-old.”

The story in the Birmingham Mail also misquoted the Trust as saying it would not comment due to patient confidentiality.

The Trust did in fact comment extensively on the type of glue used and the protocols which are followed in such incidents, as well as the fact that the parents indicated they had accepted the apologies of staff. The statement did made it clear that the Trust “cannot comment on the clinical details of the case in question”.

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust statement, in full:

A spokesperson for University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust said:

"Due to issues of patient confidentiality, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust cannot comment on the clinical details of the case in question.

However, tissue adhesive (glue) is often used to close wounds. This is done for patient comfort, particularly in children. The alternative involves needles, to administer local anaesthetic to freeze the skin, and stitches (suturing). Unfortunately, dripping of the glue is a known risk, occasionally into the eyelashes in a wound close to the eye.

The adhesive used by University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust poses no risk to health or vision. The glue loses its adhesive power over a period of one to four days, after which the eye opens normally.

Glue is usually applied to patients in a reclining or semi-reclining position to minimise dripping. However, children do not always tolerate lying flat, particularly if they have had an injury. Even with these, precautions glue can, unfortunately, still drip onto the eye lashes.

The Trust has reviewed its procedure of application of tissue adhesive and, upon advice from consultant staff, an eye patch will be applied prior to the application of tissue glue in any future closure of this nature.

Such incidents are very rare, and staff followed all appropriate protocols in the care of this patient, including contacting the central national advisory service to confirm the appropriate procedure had been followed. Staff advised the continuous washing of the eye with warm water to speed up dissolution of the glue.

A doctor is always involved in the care of patients presenting at Selly Oak Accident and Emergency department. The family was advised of the planned course of action and indicated on at least two occasions that they were happy with the advice. Staff also apologised for the incident, which has no long term consequences.

The Trust has not received any complaint concerning this incident."