Nurse switched off girl's ventilator for nearly six minutes; she died four months later

Left · 2On 15 February 2022 a nurse employed by Optima Health and Social Care Ltd switched off the ventilator of 13-year-old Joy Osundeko at her family home in St Helens, Merseyside. 1 2 Left · 1Joy, who had Down's syndrome and several serious medical conditions, needed round-the-clock care. 1 Left · 2Family CCTV footage appears to show the nurse pressing buttons on the machine, which shut down and stayed off for almost six minutes until a parent switched it back on, according to the Mirror. 1 2

Left · 1Her father, Mayo, said he found Joy "completely lifeless", removed the ventilator from her trachea and gave her oxygen by hand, and it took almost a minute before she started breathing again. 1 Left · 2The family say the nurse first told them the ventilator had been off only for a few seconds, but the footage suggested close to six minutes. 1 2 Left · 2Joy spent nine days at Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Her parents say her health then declined: she moved her limbs less and no longer smiled. She died on 13 June 2022, aged 14, after a stroke that caused brain stem death. 1 2

Left · 2Optima admitted breaching its duty of care but denied the incident caused Joy any injury or contributed to her death, and later agreed an out-of-court damages settlement with the family. 1 2 Left · 1In a statement quoted by the Mirror, Optima said the ventilator was "mistakenly switched off", that an MRI scan showed no evidence of lasting injury, that it reported the incident to the CQC, the local authority and the St Helens ICB, and that no action was taken against it. It said it believed Joy's underlying life-limiting condition was connected to her death. 1 Left · 2Police investigated and the nurse was initially charged with a criminal trial listed, but the CPS confirmed in December 2025 that it would no longer pursue a prosecution. 1 2

Left · 2The family's request for an inquest was rejected, with the coroner citing the time elapsed and the lack of vital evidence after Joy's cremation. 1 2 Left · 2The Nursing and Midwifery Council is investigating. It told the Liverpool Echo, as quoted by the Mirror, that the nurse is subject to precautionary restrictions on their practice while enquiries continue. 1 2 Left · 2Joy's parents, Bisi and Mayo Osundeko, say they feel "completely failed" by the system, have never had an explanation from the nurse, and will keep fighting for answers. Their solicitor, Maria Repanos of Hudgell Solicitors, said that more than four years on they still have no explanation. 1 2