Baby died after mother not woken for hospital checks

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Nov, 14:32 · Archive

Newborn Sonny Thomas Taylor died three days after birth from lack of oxygen, after his mother was not woken for essential observations at a Welsh hospital.

Sonny Thomas Taylor was born at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor on 30 September 2022, but died three days later at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, after suffering a catastrophic brain injury due to lack of oxygen at birth.

An inquest held in Caernarfon on 13 November heard that Mrs Taylor's waters broke early at 36-and-a-half weeks' gestation on 29 September. She arrived at a 'very busy' maternity department that day and was made subject to four-hourly observations. However, by the time the next check was due at 10pm, she had fallen asleep and was not woken. Mrs Taylor said she felt 'intense fear' when she woke at about 1am on 30 September and 'knew something was deeply wrong'.

Mrs Taylor told the inquest she felt 'terrified and alone' at Ysbyty Gwynedd and believed his death 'could have been prevented' if not for the 'failures' experienced. She stated: 'I do believe if they had monitored me when they should have, the outcome of Sonny's birth would have been different.'

Coroner Kate Robertson criticised Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for not referring Sonny's death to the coroner's office, saying: 'I only came to know about this because of the media… any doctor in Sonny's case had a responsibility to refer the case.'

How it is being reported

• Three-day-old baby died after mother was not woken for checks at Bangor hospitalA newborn baby died after his mother was not woken for essential observations shortly before his birth.North Wales Chronicle · 13 Nov, 13:44
• Three-day-old baby died after mother was not woken for checks at Bangor hospitalA newborn baby died after his mother was not woken for essential observations shortly before his birth.North Wales Pioneer · 13 Nov, 13:44

In this story: Sonny Thomas Taylor · Eve Taylor · Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor · Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan · Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board · Kate Robertson

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