Any wait ‘a second too long’ for needle tot

FRANTIC . . . Daniel and Shareen Mills with their son Harvey

A FAMILY who faced an agonising 12 months wait over their baby boy’s health have had their ‘sentence’ cut.

Toddler Harvey Mills (21 months) was found sucking a dirty needle from an overflowing sharps (needle) bin in an unlocked cupboard at Cannon Street Health Centre last Monday.

His mother Shareen Mills (28) had taken Harvey’s four-month-old brother Lewis to be immunised when she spotted him with the needle.

Mrs Mills (28) and her husband Daniel (22) were told they would have to wait 12 months to find out if Harvey had contracted Hepatitis.

Now NHS Oldham, the primary care trust which runs the centre, will fast track the results and the family will now only have to wait three months.

Mr Mills, from Broadway Street, Hathershaw, said that while they were relieved the waiting had been reduced, they were still very upset and stressed.

He said: “It still doesn’t provide any comfort to us. The incident should not have taken place, and any waiting is one second too long.

“We are still obviously upset over the whole situation as I’m sure any other parent would be.”

The story caused a storm on the Oldham Evening Chronicle website, with more than 35 posted comments.

Mr Mills, who said they were considering legal action, slammed negative comments made about his family but thanked well-wishers for their support.

He said: “Neither my wife nor I would have risked our son’s health for the sake of money.”

He added that he hoped the massive media coverage — which included national TV, radio and newspapers after the Chronicle broke the story — would ensure the incident would never happen again, anywhere.