A premature baby was left to starve after doctors FORGOT to refer him for surgery, according to his livid mum.

The furious mother claims doctors "forgot" to refer him for a vital operation.

Nikki Sharp's baby son was born three months prematurely.

The tot, named Hugo, is now one year old and 14lbs in weight.

But he needed a gastrostomy tube inserting into his stomach to feed him, according to medics.

The tot spent nine weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Hull Royal Infirmary.

He was released from hospital with a nasogastric (NG) feeding tube,  Hull Daily Mail  reports.

But Hugo is not on any waiting lists to fit a gastrostomy tube and has no follow-up appointments booked.

His mum said: "We were told he needs a gastrostomy tube because he is classed as 'failure to thrive' as he is not getting enough nutrition.

"They said he needs the tube to gain weight and develop.

"He's suffered his whole life, he has tummy cramps and diarrhoea, it's never stopped.

"We thought we were on the waiting list but yesterday the dietitian said she couldn’t see any appointments that had been made, there's no follow ups to see him again, he's not been put on the list for anything.

"They basically said the consultant forgot to press send on the referral."

She added: "We don’t have any milk whatsoever, a gastro doctor needs to prescribe it.

"We have tried it for four weeks as they told us to, but it's not worked and he needs to go back on what he was on but without an appointment they‘ve left him to starve.

"All these consultants that we've got are supposed to come together and make a plan.

"All they say is go to PALS to make a complaint, but in the meantime they’re not looking after our son.

"There's no duty of care for him whatsoever.

"They’ve just left him, there’s nothing more for Hugo."

Mrs Sharp, who is married to Hugo's dad Scott, continued: "We're clutching at straws, we don’t know what to do with him.

"We're frustrated and exhausted, being a parent is suppose to be a joy and we're like his carers.

"He doesn't sleep, he is feeding though a tube, medication after medication, he's in pain, we’re like his carers, it's constant.

"I feel frustrated he's getting fobbed off because they haven't pulled their finger out their a*** – it's disgusting how hes been left.

"The medical team say to go to PALS, how can they say that on themselves?

"They had already told us to complain that it took ten months to refer him, he could have been referred when he was two months old.

"We’ve had enough, there’s only so much they can make him suffer, he’s had enough.

"He wants to eat but he’s limited.

"We thought next step was to have these appointments but since finding that out, there’s no next step, no appointments, no follow ups.

"He needs the medical care he is supposed to get, you can’t just leave them.

"I know the NHS is stretched and I get that, but this isn't good enough."

Hull Royal Infirmary is working to resolve the family's complaint.

A spokeswoman for Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We are sorry Hugo’s parents are unhappy with his treatment.

"Although we are unable to comment on individual cases because of strict rules governing patient confidentiality, we can confirm our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) has received a complaint from the family and we will respond to them as soon as possible."