‘Why did my baby daughter die at hospital?’
A MOTHER whose baby died with congenital abnormalities and two infections is still seeking answers about the circumstances of her death.
Samantha Ferrier gave birth to a daughter at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital maternity unit. The infant died in the Royal Hospital for Children less than 12 months later.
Yesterday Miss Ferrier told an inquiry into problems at the flagship hospital site that there were multiple issues with the building during her daughter’s stay, including a smell of sewage and clumps of dust coming out of the ventilation system.
The Scottish Hospitals Inquiry is investigating the construction of the QEUH campus after issues were linked to the deaths of two children.
Earlier this year, an independent review found the fatalities were at least in part the result of infections linked to the hospital environment.
Miss Ferrier’s daughter, who is not being named for legal reasons, was born with a genetic condition that causes curving of the joints and breathing complications.
The infant remained in hospital care throughout her short life. She contracted both bronchopneumonia and norovirus and died of a seizure.
In a witness statement published by the inquiry, Miss Ferrier said: ‘Losing our daughter before her first birthday had a huge impact on me. We still don’t know why she died or from what, despite there even being two post-mortems. We are wanting answers from the medical staff.’
Highlighting issues with the hospital environment, she said: ‘We were sitting in a clinical bed bay area of A&E when grey fluff was blown out of the overhead ventilation. It was like clumps of dust particles.
‘The smell was apparent every day there. Sometimes, you could actually smell what was like raw sewage before you even got to the hospital.’
She added: ‘I just want her to be recognised as a wee baby that deserved the life that she didn’t get.’
The inquiry in Edinburgh, chaired by Lord Brodie, continues.
Health boards are due to give evidence at a later date.