Parents seek inquiry after baby’s ‘preventable’ death
THE parents of a baby whose death was “wholly avoidable” have called for an independent inquiry into a maternity unit that is facing questions over seven infant fatalities.
Sarah and Tom Richford said they hoped the death of their son, Harry, could be a “turning point” for the NHS, accusing it of failing to learn lessons that could have saved their child.
An inquest heard that he was born in 2017 in an operating theatre “full of panicking people” at Margate’s Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital.
Christopher Sutton-mattocks, the coroner, found Harry’s death was “contributed to by neglect” after a catalogue of failings.
The inquest heard of numerous errors surrounding the birth of the child by caesarean section.
Harry was delivered more than 90 minutes later than he should have been with an inexperienced doctor in charge, and there were delays seeking help from a senior doctor.
Mr Sutton-mattocks said the situation was “terrifying” for the child’s parents, with a nurse describing the scenes as “chaotic”.
He said: “I find that Harry Richford’s death was contributed to by neglect. It was, in my judgment, wholly avoidable.”
Last night, his parents called for the death of their child to be a “turning point” in the culture of the NHS, urging ministers to order an independent investigation.
The BBC has reported that it is one of at least seven “preventable” baby deaths at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust since 2016.
Mr Richford said the trust knew there was an “extreme risk to pregnant women and neonatals in their care” at the time of Harry’s birth.
“This risk was present from at least as far back as 2014, when the number of serious incidents on maternity were highlighted,” he told reporters. “We have read about Morecambe Bay and Shrewsbury and Telford, and find the similarities to Harry’s case are frightening.
“We are calling for the Secretary of State to arrange an independent investigation or inquiry into Harry’s death and maternity services at East Kent.”
The Richfords had pushed for a judgment of unlawful killing, but the coroner did not consider the failures to be so bad as to fall within that definition.
Dr Paul Stevens, medical director for East Kent Hospitals: “We are deeply sorry and wholeheartedly apologise for our failings in Harry’s care and accept the coroner’s conclusion and findings.”
A Department of Health spokesman said: “We can never underestimate the agony of losing a baby and our thoughts are with Harry’s family. An extensive programme of support is in place to improve the maternity services at the trust and we will continue to closely monitor the actions and progress.”