Our 1 day old full term son died at one day old due to a catalogue of failures.
The Trust has since Admitted substandard care in community midwifery, and failure to sufficiently investigate, diagnose, and treat our son and that they failed him and this caused his demise.
This negligence was not admitted i.) on pals complaint, ii.) nor admitted when grieving parents sought inclusion to the internal investigation, iii.) it wasn’t admitted when freedom of information request was submitted for medical records, iv.) it wasn’t admitted at Coroners Inquest.
When parents asked questions, terms were used like “why didn’t you tell us this or that”, parents left for months without results, blaming themselves for the death of their child. Parent accused of “being confused”, mum never informed of medical history. Should have said. You aren’t feeding right, or breast feeding..
Liability was only admitted when litigation was sought to try and ascertain his truth, and to obtain an actual completed root cause analysis and serious incident report. Two had been submitted, but neither completed, the root cause stopped at 2 why’s, rather than 5, and didn’t actually investigate the cause.
Complaints were submitted before and after our son’s death, for substandard care, having to coordinate own care during a high risk pregnancy. A trust closure of one hospital of three leading to an over run maternity ward, inability to be admitted to that ward when illnesses impacted pregnancy. Vasculitis, bleeds, water leaks, vomiting bile/ heartburn, agonising abdominal pain and side pain. No admissions when high protein found, no admissions for two reduced movements and still none on the third doppler for movement checks.
The trust has admitted to the lesser of allegations put to them, as under the eyes of the law they do not have to comment on the claim they actually caused the event of which led to his death.
What’s worse is that it took them a very short amount of time to admit. If I was a suspicious person you would question whether they knew all along? Surely not as that would be illegal under oath, incompetent at best? Fraudulently or purposely misleading a coroner wouldn’t happen would it?
We were lucky that litigation still existed to allow medical malpractice to be investigated, with the introduction of Supreme Court ruling 11/01/24 other parents will not be extended this arm of support; the process has nearly killed me over the journey.
Our son died a tragic agonising death, with clearly documented failure to observe, monitor and care for him, inexperienced staff, who not only were overwhelmed but weren’t present on the ward, nor was the consultant.
He is the one that is failed now as well as then. He is the one they don’t respect or value the life of, a number, a statistic. To us he was the world and he’s died.
Grieving parents having to fight for the truth, for justice, to survive whilst tortured by the fact that our son died in so much pain, who were trusted medical practitioners; those under oath didn’t admit that which has been uncovered. Stood in front of sobbing parents and family members who could have given some closure, and chose not to. Medical versus non medical.
The catalogue of inadequacies demonstrates individual failure, some 5 hours without critical medical investigate by registrar, midwifery failure to follow hourly instructed (verbal and written) full observations by a paediatrician, identifying the culture divide in the practitioners. Our baby never stood a chance. He was failed over and over and over again.
Written off as moany. He was grunting for breath. He was a baby, a human, a life, a son, a child.
Nobody is listening anymore, we are cast out, swept with the mounting negligence hidden under the carpet. Probably hoping that the grief, torment, psychological injuries succeed in killing us, so the noise stops…
Until parents are realised as a joint primary victim as one with their dependant we will be ignored, and our children will continue to die. Parents are their advocate, their consent, their voice, as a child a new born they are unable to make those choices and legally, you are them.. and hours before you physically were them. As one.. now there is no reason for trusts to admit the truth, because there is no accountability, responsibility and no recourse. Justice and learning will never happen.
I see our baby every night when I relive his agonising time with us. I wish I could have protected you baby boy, I shouldn’t have trusted them, your life was taken from you. You deserved so much more, and I still feel responsible every moment of every day for my pleas not being heard by the staff. I was written off as a vocal parent. I am sorry I didn’t do enough.
This is my story as a: Family member
NHS Trust (or Provider): Don’t know/prefer not to say
Timespan: 6 years ago
Did you complain?: Yes
Did the Trust (or Provider) retaliate?: Yes
Can you share more, maybe share the tactics used?: Closed ranks. Radio silence. Non inclusion to internal investigation. Told confused. Told got things wrong. Told should have told them things. Gas lighted. Blamed self still do. Governance manager called to the pals complaint???? And again from freedom of info request, asking “what are you looking to achieve”. Lawyers at the inquest coached the medical witnesses. Then told – why didn’t you reach out! They messed with our minds when at most impressions / vulnerable, when we literally were hanging on every word to ascertain why?
Would you recommend PALS as an impartial intermediary?: No
After investigation, did the Trust (or Provider) respond satisfactorily?: No
Did you take your complaint to the Ombudsman (PHSO)?: Prefer not to say or N/A
Your ethnicity: White British
Have you experienced suicidality due to this?: Thoughts/feelings
Are you autistic?: Prefer not to say
Are you disabled as defined under the Equality Act 2010?: Yes
