Former midwife shares anger over son's death

After waking from the coma, Mrs Davis saw how ill her son was

A former midwife from West Sussex whose baby died after being born by emergency caesarean section has shared her anger over her son's death.

Robyn Davis, from Steyning, West Sussex, gave birth to her son Orlando at Worthing Hospital on 10 September 2021. He died 14 days later.

Mrs Davis said: “I can’t explain the sadness, frustration, anger and complete heartbreak I felt and still feel towards the Trust for not keeping us safe."

Chief nurse Maggie Davies of the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust said: "We wish to offer our heartfelt condolences to Orlando’s family at this hugely difficult time."

An inquest into Orlando's death has started in Chichester

'Catastrophically ill'

An inquest into Orlando's death has started in Chichester.

Mrs Davis, who had previously worked as a midwife at the hospital, said she felt she had not been listened to when she raised concerns about her fluid intake and the position of the baby.

"Every time I said something was wrong the midwives never investigated this further," Mrs Davis said.

The inquest heard that, as complications arose during the labour, Mrs Davis was transferred to hospital as she began to suffer seizures, which led to her being placed in a coma.

After waking from the coma, Mrs Davis saw how ill her son was.

"I could not stop crying and having panic attacks. I could not understand that Orlando was this catastrophically ill that he was going to die," she explained.

Mrs Davis said she had been "haunted psychologically" at having to watch her son die.

Coroner Penelope Schofield told the hearing: “I appreciate the family are incredibly angry and distressed" following Orlando's death.

The coroner explained she would take into account "the impact this case will have, not only on the family but on the witnesses whose careers may be at risk.”

Ms Davies, from the NHS Trust, said: "We will be doing all we can to assist the coroner and the family to understand the circumstances surrounding the tragic loss of their baby boy."