Coroner says newborn's death at Welsh hospital was preventable

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 22:20 · Archive

A coroner found that newborn Sonny Taylor would not have died if hospital staff had woken his mother for monitoring checks before his emergency delivery.

Sonny Taylor died aged three days on 3 October 2022 after suffering a catastrophic brain injury caused by lack of oxygen and sepsis. His mother Eve Taylor, 29, was admitted to Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor, after her waters broke early at 36 weeks. She was identified as having signs of potential infection and received antibiotics. Observations that should have been taken every four hours were not carried out because the mother was asleep, and a midwife decided not to wake her.

Mrs Taylor woke hours later feeling intense fear and told staff that her baby did not appear to be moving as usual. The medical team discovered the baby's heartbeat was very low and carried out an emergency caesarean section. There was a 15-minute delay when Mrs Taylor was taken to the labour ward instead of straight to an operating theatre. Sonny was transferred to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd's Special Care Baby Unit but died with a catastrophic brain injury and sepsis.

At the inquest, consultant Dr Zainab Ilyas said that had observations been taken at 10pm and Mrs Taylor gone straight to theatre, it was 'possible' there might have been a different outcome. Midwife Hannah Cutts admitted in the hearing that she 'should have woken her up at 10 o'clock'. The coroner found the death preventable. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has apologised and admitted failings in care.

How it is being reported

• Mother whose newborn died after failed hospital checks was 'terrified and alone'Sonny Taylor died after hospital staff failed to wake up his mother, Eve, for monitoring.BBC North West Wales · 13 Nov, 17:07
• Baby boy would not have died if Ysbyty Gwynedd medics had woken his sleeping mumSonny Thomas Taylor, who had a low heart rate, was eventually delivered by emergency caesarean section but died with a 'catastrophic' brain injury and sepsis, aged just three days.North Wales Live · 13 Nov, 15:19

In this story: Sonny Taylor · Eve Taylor · Ysbyty Gwynedd · Bangor · Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board · Hannah Cutts · Zainab Ilyas

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