A three day inquest begins today, Monday 14th September at 10am at the Blackpool Coroner’s Court, into the death of eight day old Richard George on 11th December 2024.
Richard was the family’s third child. He was delivered via c-section on 3rd December 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.
The hospital was aware of the complication of maternal diabetes and that both previous children had been delivered early via c-section to avoid potential injuries.
Representing the family, stillbirth and neonatal death solicitor Eleanor Rostron, 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, commented: “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 ten 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”.
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”.
The Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust does not admit liability.
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Why Diane Rostron?
Diane Rostron is a specialist complex birth injury law firm representing families affected by maternity negligence. The team collaborates with leading independent medical experts and barristers to forensically investigate the chain of events resulting in a permanent brain injury, or the loss of a baby to stillbirth or in the initial weeks after birth.
Offering in excess of 30 years’ experience, Diane Rostron has a strong history of securing £multi-million brain damage claims and substantial settlements when a baby has died following suspected medical errors.
The empathetic team of parents support families through the legal process and beyond the conclusion of a claim. The experts understand the complex lifelong care needs of a child when hospital failings have caused irreversible brain damage, including cerebral palsy cases.
The team understands the devastation and trauma suffered by parents who have lost their baby, or whose child has been catastrophically brain damaged due to preventable medical negligence – including historic incidents when other law firms have not successfully concluded a claim. Diane Rostron secures answers and justice when families have been let down by their hospital.
To start a claim, please get in touch with our medical negligence solicitors by calling 01253 766 559.