TOT DEATH DOCS PLEA
THE death of a baby at a scandal-hit hospital has led to a series of new safety demands from a coroner.
We told last year how Alba May Pemberton died aged two, days after she was starved of oxygen during birth at North Middlesex University Hospital.
Despite signs of distress, a newly qualified midwife failed to alert a senior colleague for 40 minutes.
North London coroner Andrew Walker said closer monitoring could have led to an earlier intervention. He has written to Health Secretary Matt Hancock to demand that every patient at a birthing centre has an obstetric review by a doctor.
“Obstetricians should be more involved in the management of low-risk cases,” Mr Walker added.
A spokesman for the hospital said: “We are extremely regretful about the death of Alba May Pemberton in August 2016 and have extended our sincere condolences to the family. Our Trust is fully committed to continual improvement, sharing learning with our clinicians when things go wrong to improve safety.”
Lawyers for Alba May’s parents said: “Both Wesley and Rochelle remain devastated by the loss of their daughter. No new parents should have to leave the hospital without their baby and steps need to be taken to ensure the pain felt by Wesley and Rochelle is not endured by other new parents.”