Apology after baby's preventable sepsis death

Baby Willow, who died 11 years ago, "managed to touch the hearts of very many people" during her short life, her mum said

A hospital has apologised after a 10-day-old baby died of sepsis linked to a bungled biopsy procedure.

Willow Rose Courtney-Thompson was born prematurely at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford in October 2014 and suffered with problems feeding and other complications.

Lawyers for the family, from Brackley in Northamptonshire, said an inquest last month heard how Willow was not given the usual pre-procedure antibiotics designed to prevent infection ahead of a biopsy. She was discharged on the same day.

The inquest, which recorded a narrative conclusion, found that Willow's parents did not give full consent to the biopsy, were not warned of possible risks and that her death had been preventable.

Mum Lauren Courtney-Thompson said: "The hardest thing to try and come to terms with is how Willow's death followed a biopsy that we weren't properly informed about.

"We weren't warned of any risks connected to the biopsy, including potential infection, and hadn't given consent.

"Staff proceeded while I was momentarily taking a phone call from my GP."

Parents Lauren and Joseph Courtney-Thompson said they were speaking out in the hope of improving care for others

Law firm Irwin Mitchell said the inquest heard how the biopsy aimed to rule out a the possibility of a rare bowel disease but that it was carried out in a treatment room "lacking privacy and dignity, with frequent interruptions".

"Willow did not receive the usual pre-procedure antibiotics designed to prevent an infection," the firm said. "Instead, she received two doses afterwards.

"Willow was wrongly sent home around 10 hours after the procedure.

"However, Joseph and Lauren did not receive adequate safety netting advice regarding signs of severe illness, such as sepsis.

"Willow continued to feed poorly and was lethargic at home. She had developed sepsis – where the body attacks itself in response to an infection."

Willow's cause of death was recorded as E.Coli sepsis as a result of a suction rectal biopsy.

The family said they had been "besotted" with their baby girl

Prof Andrew Brent, chief medical officer at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "There were critical shortfalls in Willow's care, and we didn't get it right – for that, I am truly sorry."

He said that the care Willow received was "poor" and that "lessons have been learned".

"What happened to baby Willow was deeply tragic, and nothing I say can begin to diminish the pain that I know Willow's parents and family will be feeling," he added.

Mrs Courtney-Thompson described her little girl as "sassy and "adorable".

"Although Willow only got 10 days of life, she still managed to touch the hearts of very many people around us," she said.

"Willow will always be part of our family. We were and still are besotted by our little girl who is greatly missed by all our family.

"We just hope that by speaking out we can help improve care for others as we wouldn't anyone else to endure what our family have."

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