Unique circumstances led to baby's death - inquest

George Dosanjh died at the Royal Stoke University Hospital on 3 December 2022, just a few days after being born prematurely

An inquest has heard how a "unique set of circumstances" led to a baby's death just days after he was born prematurely.

George Dosanjh died at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent on 3 December 2022, after he had been delivered by emergency caesarean section amid a number of medical issues.

George's family, from Stafford, raised a number of questions about his treatment and the decisions taken by medics during mum Charlotte Hird's difficult labour.

An expert witness told the inquest into George's death that the care received by George and Charlotte had been in line with standard procedure.

Mustafa Sadiq, a consultant at Wirral University Hospital, said an unusual combination of factors had made it a very complex delivery.

Ms Hird had gone into labour early at 34 weeks, and staff decided to carry out an emergency caesarean after the baby's heart rate started to drop.

At some point during the procedure, an acute placental abruption took place, where the placenta becomes detached from the womb, and George was being starved of oxygen.

While medics were aware they had to deliver George as quickly as possible, an impacted fetal head – where the baby's head becomes lodged in the mother's pelvis – made this difficult.

'Very rare'

George was born following a further incision and an unusual reverse breech manoeuvre.

He was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit but died just three days later, due to multiple organ failure and hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.

Mr Sadiq said staff had taken reasonable decisions throughout the emergency.

"This was a very rare situation. Given the experience of the team, I believe they did the right thing," he said.

He added that staff could have taken more samples during the procedures, and while this would not have changed the outcome, it would have made it easier to subsequently understand the timing of the placental abruption.

Dr Victoria Allouni, a consultant in maternal medicine at the University Hospitals of North Midlands, confirmed actions taken by medics had been in line with their training.

She told the inquest that training had been refreshed following the incident.

"Most staff will never experience circumstances like these, but it's important for the small percentage who will," she said.

Paying tribute to her son, Ms Hird said he was "perfect in every way possible," adding: "There isn't a day that goes by when we aren't thinking about you."

Coroner Fiona Gingell will deliver her conclusion on Wednesday.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.