Couple calls for better maternity care after baby dies

Baby Kit died after a three-hour delay in providing a potentially life-saving blood transfusion

A couple whose "miracle" baby died following a three-hour delay in providing a potentially life-saving blood transfusion are calling for improved maternity care.

Sarah and Andrew Conroy, from Sevenoaks, in Kent, are campaigning to ensure families receive the best standard of care after their baby they spent four years trying for died six hours after birth at London's University Hospital Lewisham.

"If by sharing our story we can help empower families to ask questions and improve care, then maybe Kit's death won't have been totally in vain," Ms Conroy said.

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust said changes had been implemented after an independent review.

Sarah Conroy is campaigning to ensure families receive the best standard of care

Their baby was born in a poor condition and needed to be resuscitated after Ms Conroy suffered a serious bleed, known as an antepartum haemorrhage – where the placenta separates from the womb – during labour.

Instead of giving the baby an emergency blood transfusion, medics did not administer blood until he was three-hours-old.

The trust subsequently agreed an undisclosed out-of-court settlement, according to the couple's legal team at Irwin Mitchell.

"Parents need to trust their instincts and know it is OK to ask questions of medical staff to ensure they're happy with their care," Ms Conroy said.

"There continues to be too many families affected by poor maternity care that we can't sit by and do nothing."

The couple has since welcomed Cooper, two, and Jude, eight months, to their family.

The trust said an action plan had been developed to address the recommendations of the review following the death.

"These changes have been fully implemented, and we are committed to continuing to listen and improve," it said.