It Wasn’t Just Preston Davey: Shocking Failures at Blackpool Victoria Hospital Exposed in Two Tragic Cases
In the summer of 2023, Blackpool Victoria Hospital became the focal point of a devastating safeguarding scandal that has rocked the UK’s child protection system. Two young boys, seen within 24 hours of each other, displayed warning signs that were overlooked. Both later died at the hands of their caregivers in horrific circumstances. The cases of 13-month-old Preston Davey and two-year-old Damion Russell reveal systemic lapses that experts say demand urgent national reform.
Preston Davey: A Pattern of Missed Opportunities
Preston Davey, a smiling, curly-haired toddler who had thrived in foster care, was placed with adoptive parents Jamie Varley, a former teacher, and John McGowan-Fazakerley in April 2023. In just four months, he suffered over 40 non-accidental injuries, including bruises, fractures, and evidence of sexual abuse.
He was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital three times. On May 25, he arrived floppy and unresponsive with unexplained head bruises. Nurses noted injuries “inconsistent with the version of events,” alerted safeguarding teams, police, and social services. Yet medics ultimately accepted explanations of a learning-to-crawl accident, and no further action followed.
On June 30, Preston returned with a rash, vomiting, fever—and fresh bruising. Varley showed staff an outdated video of the boy pulling a toy box onto himself (filmed nearly two weeks earlier). Staff accepted it despite the mismatch in bruise timing. Varley reportedly even joked that hospital staff might think they were “abusing him.”
A third visit on July 6 involved a fractured elbow, again explained away. Social workers reassured the couple. On July 27, Preston was brought in unresponsive and died. Post-mortem findings confirmed smothering and extensive abuse. Varley received a whole-life sentence for murder; his partner was convicted of related offences.
Reviews identified at least eight missed opportunities across health, social services, and police.
The Day Before: Damion Russell’s Unheeded Signs
Just one day earlier, on June 29, another toddler—Damion Russell—was treated at the same A&E department after a febrile convulsion. Staff noted an “old, mild black bruise spot” on his forehead but failed to question his father, Daniel Hardcastle, as safeguarding protocols required.
Less than two months later, in August 2023, Hardcastle murdered Damion in a “horrifically violent” attack. The two-year-old’s body was covered in injuries, including an adult bite mark. Hardcastle was later convicted. A safeguarding review explicitly criticized the hospital for not following expected practice in Damion’s case.
The shocking proximity of these incidents—two vulnerable children with visible injuries dismissed at the same facility—has fueled outrage and calls for accountability.
What Went Wrong? Systemic Failures Across the UK
Both tragedies highlight deeper issues: over-reliance on parental explanations, poor inter-agency communication, inadequate training on non-accidental injuries, and deference that allowed abusers to evade scrutiny. In Preston’s case, adoption processes from Oldham Council also faced scrutiny. In Damion’s, custody arrangements raised questions.
Blackpool South MP Chris Webb and others have demanded a full public inquiry. Petitions like “Preston’s Law” call for mandatory reviews in high-risk adoptions and better safeguarding escalation. Hospital leaders have acknowledged the need for improved training, but critics argue broader NHS and social care reforms are essential.
These heartbreaking cases underscore a painful truth: warning signs were visible, but the system failed to act decisively. As families grieve and the public demands change, the question lingers—what must be done to ensure no more children slip through the cracks?