'Wrong' to switch off heart monitor - baby inquest

Baby Fatima Khan died at Royal Stoke University Hospital within hours of being born

A decision to stop heart monitors before a baby's birth and to switch off an overhead heater were mistakes, but they may not have led to her death, an inquest heard.

Fatima Khan, born at the Royal Stoke University Hospital on 4 June 2023, died in hospital within hours of delivery, medics told North Staffordshire's coroner.

It was "difficult to say" if she would have survived, had different decisions been taken about her care, the doctors said.

Coroner Emma Serrano was continuing to hear evidence over the course of a three-day inquest.

The hearing was told Fatima's mum was admitted to the Royal Stoke on 4 June 2023.

Observations were taken at 18:16 BST and the cardiotocography (CTG), which monitors a baby's heart rate and a mother's contractions during pregnancy, was normal.

However, the CTG was stopped at 19:30 and not reapplied until 22:15, when it was discovered the baby's heart rate had dropped, prompting a medical emergency to be declared.

Fatima, whose parents live in Stone, Staffordshire, was delivered just before midnight.

Dr Victoria Allouni, a consultant in obstetrics and maternal medicine, told the inquest the CTG should not have been discontinued as information on Fatima's heart rate was missing.

'Wrong decision'

"It may be that she would have lived a little bit longer, it may have been that she survived with a neurological deficit or it might have been that she survived and been okay," she said.

"But without knowing what the foetal heart pattern was prior to and the event that happened, it's difficult to say."

Dr Julia Uffindell, clinical lead in neonatology, was called at 23:30 as the team was resuscitating Fatima.

She arrived at the delivery suite just over 30 minutes after the baby was born, and made the decision to turn off the overhead heater as the infant's heart rate had been audible and airways were clear.

"In hindsight, this was the wrong decision as she had not been sufficiently stabilised," she said.

"However, I do not believe it made a difference to the ultimate outcome."

Although chest compressions were restarted, Dr Uffindell said it would have been unlikely that Fatima would have survived.

The inquest continues.

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