Baby's Death: Communication Failure Exposed

A 13-day-old infant, Daisy McCoy, died in February 2022 at Yeovil Hospital in Somerset, succumbing to a lack of oxygen or blood flow. An earlier scan had revealed a brain injury, potentially linked to umbilical cord or placental issues, necessitating a C-section. However, critical delays occurred due to a failure in communication among staff, including a consultant working remotely.

The inquest revealed that staff did not escalate concerns from an abnormal fetal scan promptly. The remote consultant was unaware of ward staffing issues, impacting her decision to attend. This communication breakdown, coupled with insufficient adherence to fetal heartbeat monitoring criteria, led to a significant delay in Daisy's emergency C-section. She was later transferred to a hospice in Barnstaple, Devon, where she passed away on February 22, 2022.

In response to the coroner's criticisms, the Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has implemented a new professional disagreement policy and introduced regular safety walkarounds. The Trust also held 'listening events' in 2023/24 to understand and improve its culture, aiming to embed lessons learned from Daisy's death into all maternity services. They are committed to continuous improvement in safety and transparency.