An outraged mother has revealed how a number of health professionals failed to spot her daughter had a broken hip.

Nineteen-month-old Gracie-Mai Drinkwater spent over a year in pain after sustaining the injury during childbirth at Watford General Hospital.

Gracie-Mai, one of a pair of twins, was born on June 2, 2014 and her mother Joanne Hiron said no one spotted the injury including doctors, pediatricians and health visitors.

The 31-year-old said: “I always knew something was not right, but when Gracie-Mai didn’t start crawling at the same time as her twin Lianne my doubts were confirmed.

“As soon as I would put her on her legs she could topple over screaming in agony.

"The doctors kept saying nothing was wrong, including the health visitor at the six-month check up, who put Gracie-Mai’s gross motor skills at 0.”

Miss Hiron said she made several visits to doctors before she was finally referred to a London hospital in September last year.

On her arrival, doctors said Gracie-Mai needed emergency surgery.

The mother-of-three, who lives off Rickmansworth Road, added: “I’m so sad it went undiagnosed for so long. It was so hard as a mother knowing she was in pain but not being able to know what it was.

“I had an apology from the health visitor, who said they should have done a follow-up.

"I just want people to admit not enough was done. No child should go so long in pain.”

After a successful operation on December 10, 2015 Gracie-Mai is now on the mend and should make a full recovery after two months of physiotherapy.

Miss Hiron said she is still waiting for news of a resolution meeting at the hospital. She said she does not blame anyone in particular, but wants to make sure the same doesn’t happen again.

She added: “I feel sad for Gracie-Mai who has missed out on proper development.

"She cannot walk or crawl, and struggles watching her siblings running around playing.

“I want someone to acknowledge our case to make sure it does not happen again. At the moment, no one is taking responsibility. I will keep fighting until my case is heard.”

West Herts Hospital Trust, which runs Watford General Hospital, was contacted for a comment but had not replied at the time of going to the Watford Observer went to press.