ITV, the television network, recently reported on an investigation led by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), which regulates health services in England, on failings by Nottingham NHS Trust to care for a newborn who died after 23 minutes.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court to two counts of being a registered person which failed to provide care and treatment in a safe way resulting in harm or loss over the death of Wynter Sophia Andrews on September 15 2019.
An inquest in 2020 found the infant died from hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy – a loss of oxygen flow to the brain – 23 minutes and 30 seconds after being born, which could have been prevented had staff at the Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC) in Nottingham delivered her earlier.
Assistant coroner Laurinda Bower concluded that Ms Andrews “did not receive the care and attention that she clinically required” and her baby “ought to have been delivered by Caesarean section well before 1406 hours when she was in fact delivered”.
Tragically, the death of baby Wynter is not an isolated case at this Hospital. A number of deaths have been reported at Nottingham University Hospital’s Trust.
The hearing in this case, which could see a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine imposed, is currently ongoing, with a ruling yet to be announced.
Medical Negligence Solicitors
At Bridge McFarland LLP, our specialist medical negligence solicitors have assisted and continue to assist people concerning medical negligence claims surrounding failures of care and treatment received under the NHS Trust and private healthcare sector.
Primarily our clients come to us to find answers about the death of a loved one and also to take action in the hope that they can prevent the same from happening to other families.
In investigating these cases, we see firsthand the changes that can be implemented to NHS Trust policy, procedure and training following a successful medical negligence claim. The NHS is openly committed to learning from its mistakes, and injured patients and their families play an essential role in this process. Read our previous article – losing a loved one to medical negligence.
If you or a loved one has concerns surrounding the care received under the NHS Trust, or private medical practice, we are here to help.
