An NHS hospital apologised last night for not giving the required care to Sophie Waller, an eight-year-old with an extreme phobia of dental treatment who died of starvation after her milk teeth were extracted.

At the inquest at Truro City Hall Richard and Janet Waller parents of Sophie Waller, of St Dennis, Cornwall said their daughter broke her tooth on a boiled sweet and was referred to the Royal Cornwall hospital in Truro where she underwent an operation to remove eight of her milk teeth under general anesthesia.

Following the operation Sophie was so traumatised that she would not open her mouth to eat or talk and was put onto a feeding tube in the ward. Sophie was sent home on 17 November and officially discharged on 21 November after she seemed to respond positively at home.

The hearing was told that her notes were sent to the wrong GP and Sophie was not seen by any medical professional before she was found dead in her bed at home on 2 December. Sophie had lost 11 kg (23lbs) in this period and had died of renal failure caused by starvation and dehydration. When the pathologist examined Sophie's body, her hair was falling out and her spine was exposed.

Cornwall Coroner Dr Emma Carlyon, said, "The severity of [the child's] malnutrition and dehydration was not recognised. This prevented her from receiving the medical support that could have prevented her death." She added that Sophie had a rare psychological condition that was described to the inquest as "pervasive refusal syndrome", which the doctors were unable to diagnose.

After the verdict Dr Ellen Wilkinson, medical director of Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust apologized to the family and said, "Everyone involved in Sophie's care was deeply saddened by her death and we offer our apologies and most sincere condolences to her family.

"Care around any child is a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary process, working closely with the whole family.

"With hindsight it can be seen that there were shortcomings in communication between health organisations and with Sophie's parents, for which we apologise." Dr Arnon Bentovim, a consultant child psychiatrist at Great Ormond Street hospital said: "It is likely that she was suffering from pervasive refusal syndrome, a very rare condition in which some kind of trauma results in a refusal to eat, drink or communicate.

"There was a failure to ensure that her ongoing medical care was fully managed and planned. The concern about her that was shown on the ward was not reflected in the day-to-day care plan in the community.

"This is a complex matter to manage. Clearly, the parents were at sea and would have valued the ongoing support of an informed nature about her nutritional needs. She could have been hiding the fact she was not eating or even spitting out food."

Elaine Panks, a family friend read a statement on behalf of the family which said, "It has been a very emotional and distressing time. No words can express how we have felt and still feel. The only justification for Sophie's death is that procedures have and will be changed and will hopefully save another child's life. Our only regret is that we listened to the advice given to us by the professionals and did not follow our own heart."