Inquest opens into baby's death after delayed Caesarean

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 22 Oct, 14:51 · Archive

Effie Forrester, born at South Lakes Birth Centre in Barrow, died 23 hours after birth; a coroner heard an independent medical expert identified a 25-minute avoidable delay in her Caesarean delivery.

An inquest has opened into the death of Effie Forrester, a baby from Barrow who died 23 hours after birth. She was born by Caesarean section at South Lakes Birth Centre on 4 September 2025 but was transferred to Burnley General Teaching Hospital, where she died the following day.

A pre-inquest review at Cumbria Coroner's Court heard that an independent medical expert identified an avoidable 25-minute delay in proceeding to the Caesarean section. Area coroner Margaret Taylor said the expert believed a doctor should have been called earlier when concerns emerged about Effie's heart rate. Once it became apparent she was struggling and her heart rate was abnormal, the doctor should have been contacted, potentially resulting in delivery 25 minutes sooner.

University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust accepted there had been an avoidable delay. However, further expert clarification was needed to establish whether an earlier delivery would have altered the outcome. The coroner summarised medical opinion as: 'She may have died, but equally she may have survived for a period of time even though she would have been quite damaged.'

Effie's provisional medical cause of death was multiple organ failure caused by severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy, a form of brain injury associated with insufficient oxygen and blood flow. The coroner has commissioned independent reports from an obstetrician and a neonatologist to examine the care provided before her birth and her subsequent resuscitation and neonatal treatment.

How it is being reported

• Baby died aged 23 hours as inquest to probe 'avoidable' delivery delayAn inquest into the death of a Barrow baby aged just 23 hours has heard concerns over an avoidable 25-minute delay in her delivery by Caesarean section.News & Star · 22 Oct, 14:21
• Baby died aged 23 hours as inquest to probe 'avoidable' delivery delayAn inquest into the death of a Barrow baby aged just 23 hours has heard concerns over an avoidable 25-minute delay in her delivery by Caesarean section.NW Evening Mail · 22 Oct, 05:00

In this story: Effie Forrester · Margaret Taylor · Barrow · South Lakes Birth Centre · Burnley General Teaching Hospital · University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust · Cumbria Coroner's Court

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