Death of newborn caused by paramedic failings
Posted: February 16, 2016
Posted in: Birth Injury Medical Negligence Wrongful & Accidental Death 
Worcestershire Hospitals Trust has recorded the death of a newborn baby as a serious incident following paramedics taking the child to Accident and Emergency at Worcestershire Royal instead of the maternity unit. The crew had been told to take the baby to the maternity unit where a full paediatric resuscitation team would be available, however it was decided that the infant should be taken to A&E. This decision was made as taking the baby to maternity would have meant wheeling the child through the main hospital whilst performing heart massage.
Ambulance crew have taken time off work
The baby was born on 23 January at home in Stourport-on-Severn and was taken to hospital by West Midlands Ambulance Service as it wasn’t breathing. It has not been confirmed by the trust or the ambulance service whether a protocol was in place to handle cases of babies not breathing. The coroner has treated the case as a stillbirth.
It has been reported that members of the ambulance crew have taken time off work due to being traumatised by the event. The hospital trust has confirmed that an investigation into the incident has been instigated.
A spokesman for the ambulance service stated: “Until the family give their permission, we will not be commenting at what must be a very distressing time. We have a duty of care to the family and our thoughts are with them at this very difficult time”.
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