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THE families of sick children and the dedicated NHS staff who work to make them better were prevented from getting in to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital during days of protests by supporters of Alfie Evans, a court was told today.

Judges at the Court of Appeal expressed “dismay” and “concern” over reports supporters of Alfie’s family had gone in to the paediatric intensive care unit at the hospital.

They said the claims were “alarming” as they ruled against Alfie’s family’s latest appeal in a hearing at the Court of Appeal today.

Lord Justice Moylan, one of three judges who heard the case today , said there was no basis to say Alfie was being “unlawfully detained”, as had been claimed.

The judges said a letter shared widely on social media, which Alfie’s dad Tom Evans had claimed was proof his son could be taken from the hospital and moved elsewhere for treatment, “gave false advice.”

Lord Justice Moylan added: “In April 2018, the father visited the hospital with an air ambulance and foreign medical staff. The father had a letter with him from [a man], not a lawyer, which said it would be lawful to remove Alfie from the hospital and take him to any other hospital as he chose.

“The letter, which was disseminated on social media, said ‘as a matter of law, it is your right to come to the hospital with a team of medical professionals with life support equipment and remove him (and) you do not need any permission from the hospital or the court to do so.

“It led to a confrontation in which Alfie was involved. The police became involved.”

Addressing claims over the protests, which began on Thursday and have led to pleas from the hospital for supporters to respect the rights of other hospital users and staff, Lord Justice Moylan said: “We are told that some members of hospital of staff could not get to the hospital because of road blockage and that some staff and family members in the hospital could not gain entry.

(Image: Geoff Davies)

“They said that some of the supporters had entered the paediatric intensive care ward.”

Many supporters gathered outside the hospital today as the ruling was awaited, with some singing You’ll Never Walk Alone and asking passing cars to beep their horns in support of the family’s fight.