'Profoundly heartbroken' - Death of baby family fear was let down by Blackpool Vic to be probed by coroner

A three day inquest begins today into the death of eight-day-old baby boy at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

Little Richard George was delivered via c-section on December 3, 2024 at Blackpool Victoria Hospital 36 weeks into the pregnancy. He was born in a poor condition, struggling to breathe with rigid muscles and suffering clinical seizures - clear indications that he had suffered a severe brain injury.

Medics at Blackpool Vic were aware of the complication of maternal diabetes and that both previous children had been delivered early via c-section to avoid potential injuries.

But despite worrying test results, which were not explained to the family following a second incident of reduced baby movements and an abnormal CTG trace, doctors held off delivering little Richard.

Sadly just eight days after his birth Richard George passed away on December 11, 2024.

Eleanor Rostron, stillbirth and neonatal death solicitor who is representing the family, said: “We believe that Richard’s death could have been avoided had the hospital proceeded to an emergency c-section following a second incident of reduced baby movements and an abnormal CTG trace.

“Richard’s death was less than two years after the death of 13-day-old Ayla Newton, also as a result of the hospital’s failure to act promptly following an abnormal CTG scan.

“Sajan and Jossy were very excited about the birth of their third child. It was planned that Richard would complete their family, so they were happy to agree to sterilisation during his delivery.

“Following the second incident of reduced baby movements at 36 weeks, the hospital advised my clients to attend the hospital. A CTG scan showed abnormal results however, the midwife failed to explain this to my clients, so they were not worried.

“Their midwife asked for a doctor to review the results. He expressed no concerns and planned to continue with monitoring Richard’s heart rate and was happy to wait until the next day. My clients were made aware that the midwife was worried about this plan and that she believed that they should be moved to the delivery suite sooner.

“The midwifery staff continued to escalate the CTG concerns to the doctor on call, who persistently failed to act upon the abnormal CTG, until the midwife insisted the on call consultant was called for their opinion.

“Even once advice had been sought from the on call consultant, the doctor did not declare a Category 1 caesarean section which should be achieved within 30 minutes, but a Category 2, which delayed delivery of baby Richard even later.

“Richard was eventually delivered five hours after the family arrived at Blackpool Victoria Hospital. His reduced movements and abnormal CTG should have prompted an emergency c-section. We believe that Richard would have avoided any brain damage, and would be a healthy baby today, had the hospital acted in a timely manner delivering him two to three hours earlier.”

Richard’s parents, 37-year-old dementia care worker Jossymol George, and 41-year-old retail manager Sajan Thomas,said: “The whole family has been devastated by our son’s death and we remain deeply traumatised.

“We do not understand why the hospital did not treat his delivery as an emergency when we reported a second incident of reduced movements.

“We were not advised that the CTG trace was abnormal. When we were eventually advised that we were being moved to theatre, Jossy walked down as we were not aware of any serious issues with Richard’s heart rate or that it was a life threatening emergency.

“We have not only lost the ability to enjoy our son and complete our family, but we are also still coming to terms with the fact that we are now unable to have more children.

“We would not have agreed to continue with the sterilisation had we been advised that Richard was likely to be born seriously unwell.

“Our six year old daughter carries a doll with her named after her brother and our 10-year-old son regularly writes about Richard in his daily diary. Our family should be happy and complete but instead, we are left profoundly heartbroken”.

The Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust does not admit liability.

What happened to 13-day-old Ayla Newton?

Ayla Marilyn Newton sadly died two weeks after mum Shannon Lord, 27, gave birth at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on January 26, 2023.

Following the conclusion of a two-day inquest into baby Ayla’s death in Blackpool, the hospital’s chief nurse and senior obstetrician both issued apologies to parents Shannon Lord and Dayle Newton after the coroner stated the delay in proceeding to caesarean section contributed to Ayla's death.

HM Coroner Margaret Taylor said: “Ayla Newton died at the age of 13 days at the Royal Preston Hospital.

“On January 25, 2023 her mother was admitted to the Blackpool Teaching Hospital for induction of labour as she was past her due date.

“At 9pm her membranes ruptured spontaneously. She was taken to the delivery suite at approximately 2am on January 26.

“A CTG to monitor Ayla's wellbeing was commenced at 3.12am. The trace was abnormal from the outset.

“A registrar was asked to review the trace at 3.38am and classified it as suspicious. A decision was made to continue to monitor Ayla.

“The abnormal trace mandated a decision to deliver Ayla by caesarean section by 3.27am which would have resulted in Ayla's delivery by 4.08am.

“Following a further review of the CTG trace, which remained abnormal between 4.25am and 4.35am, a decision was made to proceed to caesarean section.

“Ayla was born in a poor condition at 5.03am. She required resuscitation and intubation immediately after birth.

“Following stabilization she was transferred to Preston Hospital where she was diagnosed with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy.

“Her neurological condition did not improve and she died on February 8, 2023.

“On the balance of probabilities the delay in proceeding to caesarean section materially contributed to Ayla's poor outcome and her death.”

What to do Blackpool Victoria Hospital say?

The Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust does not admit liability.

Eleanor Rostron said: “My clients have not only suffered what we believe was the preventable death of their baby boy, but are also now unable to have any more children as they consented to Jossy being sterilised during the c-section."

A three day inquest will be held at Blackpool Coroner’s Court from 10am today.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been approached for comment.