Charlie Gard: Deadline passes for deciding when terminally ill baby dies

The deadline for Charlie Gard's parents to come to an arrangement with their son's doctors over his care has now passed.

If no solution has been found, the terminally ill baby will be taken to a hospice to die.

Connie Yates and Chris Gard had asked the High Court for permission to take him home, before agreeing on Wednesday that he could be cared for at a hospice.

Lawyer Grant Armstrong, representing Charlie's parents, indicated that the couple wanted to privately fund treatment at a hospice, where the 11-month-old would stay on life support for a number of days.

However, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) bosses said Charlie should stay at a hospice for a shorter period and expressed doubt over the proposed care arrangements.

A hospital representative described the parents' plans as not "in any way viable".

Mr Justice Francis ruled that unless the parents and GOSH came to an agreement by noon today, Charlie will be taken to a hospice and life support treatment will end soon after.

After the judge made his decision, Ms Yates left the court crying and said: "I hope you are happy with yourselves".

On a Facebook page set up for Charlie, the couple posted on Wednesday: "URGENT we need a pediatric intensive care consultant to come forward to assist and facilitate with a hospice stay by 12pm tomorrow, we will pay privately. PLEASE HELP US!!... We need some peaceful time with our baby boy."

During the hearing, Mr Armstrong said nurses from Great Ormond Street had volunteered to look after Charlie in his final days.

He expressed confidence that a transfer to a hospice could take place while meeting Charlie's nursing requirements.

But the hospital said a paediatric intensive care unit specialist would be required to care for the child at a hospice over a longer period.

The latest legal row began when the hospital said it was not practical to get the equipment the child needs into the family home, as his ventilator is unable to fit through the front door.

In reply, Mr Armstrong accused GOSH of putting "obstacle after obstacle" in the way of Charlie's parents, who had promised their son "every day" that he would eventually be taken home.

"It seems really upsetting after everything we've been through to deny us this," Ms Yates had said.

Later, Ms Yates broke down in court and shouted: "What if it was your child?"

Charlie suffers from a rare genetic condition which causes progressive muscle weakness, and he also has brain damage.

He requires invasive ventilation to breathe and cannot see, hear or swallow.

Following the hearing, Charlie's godfather James Evers accused GOSH of putting "arduous conditions" in the way of Ms Yates and Mr Gard's wishes.

He said: "We know (Charlie) is not in pain and suffering, so to set the bar so high that he needs this specialist with him 24/7 is setting a massive hurdle that is totally unnecessary.

"It's the nurses that look after him 24 hours a day so really that should be enough."