Claire — ‘Crikey, Not Another One’ 6. Claire — ‘Crikey, Not Another One’ It took the death of Claire Peck finally to bring detectives onto Ward Four at the Grantham and Kesteven Hospital. Three children, Liam Taylor, Timothy Hardwick and Becky Phillips had died. Eight other youngsters, Kayley Desmond, Paul Crampton, Bradley Gibson, Henry Chan, Katie Phillips, Christopher Peasgood, Christopher King and Patrick Elstone had been a whisker away from losing their lives; yet Ward Four still remained open. But after the death of Claire – child number twelve in the catalogue of tragedy – attitudes were to change. It had been a routine case. Claire was an only child, blonde-haired, bright eyed, just beginning to talk and find her feet. She was fifteen months old and asthmatic. Her life hadn’t been in real danger when she was admitted to the ward on the afternoon of 22 April. Claire was gasping for breath as Sue and David Peck drove fifteen miles to the hospital from their home on the outskirts of Newark, but the family doctor had said twenty-four hours would bring a remarkable recovery in her condition.
