Inquiry to be held into newborn Sophia Smith's hospital death

Sophia Smith died at the Royal Hospital for Children

A fatal accident inquiry (FAI) is to examine the death of an 11-day-old baby at Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Children.

Sophia Smith died at the hospital on 11 April 2017 after contracting an infection similar to MRSA, which developed into sepsis.

The lord advocate said it was in the public interest to hold an inquiry.

Another inquiry looking at the deaths of two toddlers, who also died in the hospital, was announced last week.

Police previously carried out an investigation into Sophia's death, alongside other fatalities at QEUH including leukaemia patient Milly Main, 10, who died after a catheter became infected when she was in remission.

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In 2020, the case was handed over to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) but a decision was made not to bring criminal charges.

Announcing the fatal accident inquiry, a COPFS spokesperson said a decision on criminal proceedings could be reversed if more evidence emerged.

Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for COPFS, said:  "The lord advocate has decided that a discretionary FAI should be held into the causes of this tragic death to ensure that there can be a full public hearing of the facts of the case.

"The procurator fiscal has now started work to initiate this inquiry and there are a number of legal steps which must be taken before it can commence.

"Sophia's family will be kept informed of what will happen next."

No date has yet been set for the FAI.

'Fight for truth'

A spokesperson for Thompson Solicitors who represent the Smith family said: "We welcome the announcement of an FAI into the death of Sophia and hope this will provide answers to the many questions the Smith family have into the circumstances of their daughters passing."

West of Scotland MSP Paul O'Kane has previously raised the case in parliament on behalf of Sophia's parents, Theresa and Matthew Smith, who live in Inverclyde.

Reacting to the news of an FAI he said: "It is welcome news that a fatal accident inquiry will be conducted and I hope for the sake of Theresa, Matthew, their whole family, and for the memory of Sophia that it helps deliver the truth."

"But really it should never have come to this - Theresa and Matthew should have never had to ask for the truth never mind fight for it. Their experience has been unimaginable and they have felt blocked at every turn in trying to establish why Sophia died."