Baby's Death: Four Years of Agonizing Wait for Answers

Four years after the tragic death of their son, Jacob, Kianty and Conor Simpson from Lincolnshire remain in agonizing uncertainty. Jacob died days after birth in June 2022 at Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen, following a catastrophic lack of oxygen to his brain. The family has yet to receive a death certificate or scatter Jacob's ashes, as no inquest has been held.

The Hywel Dda University Health Board admitted negligence in January 2026, acknowledging that Jacob's death was avoidable. An earlier investigation under the NHS Putting Things Right process identified multiple failings during Kianty's labor, including poor communication and inadequate fetal monitoring. However, the family feels this investigation lacked sufficient expert evidence.

Significant delays in holding Jacob's inquest have compounded the family's distress. The senior coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire apologized in February 2026, citing staff shortages exacerbated by the Covid pandemic as the reason for the backlog. Jacob's inquest is now prioritized, with a pre-inquest hearing scheduled for next month.

The prolonged wait for answers is deeply affecting the Simpsons, who have since had another child, Luke. They are determined to understand what lessons can be learned to prevent other families from enduring similar trauma, hoping the inquest will eventually bring them peace.