The parents of a baby who died two days after he was born have raised concerns about the treatment offered by Queen’s Hospital.
The death is the third in six months to be placed under investigation by a coroner amid concerns over maternity care at the Romford hospital.
An inquest was opened on Tuesday, May 6, into the death of two-day-old George James Delaney born on September 22.
“Family have raised concerns regarding the care and treatment provided by Queen’s Hospital,” coroner’s officer Ian Beresford told East London Coroner’s Court.
Baby George’s birth was induced, he said, due to “prolonged rupture of membranes” – also known as PROM – where the waters break before labour has begun, which can cause infection to both mother and baby.
Baby George had given a “pathological cardiotocogram” – meaning readings on a scan were of concern and suggested he could suffer a lack of oxygen.
He was “delivered in poor condition”, said Mr Beresford.
“Despite treatment at Queen’s Hospital, transfer to Homerton Hospital and Evangelina Hospital, he sadly died.”
His cause of death has been given as multi-organ failure caused by e-coli sepsis.
“I’m satisfied on those facts this death occurred in circumstances requiring an inquest,” said coroner Nadia Persaud.
“I’ve already received the family concerns about the circumstances surrounding the delivery of George.”
She made both George’s family and the trust that runs Queen’s – Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) – interested persons.
That entitles them to view evidence ahead of the final inquest and question any witnesses called to testify.
Mrs Persaud ordered the trust to hand over records of the mother and baby’s care and provide statements from those involved in their treatment.
“I will be considering the instruction of a neonatology expert once we have received the medical records that I have directed,” she said.
In January, an inquest was opened into the death of a baby believed to have suffered brain damage during delivery at Queen’s.
In December, the court opened an inquest into another baby’s death, who was believed to have sustained head and spine injuries during attempts to deliver her.
Baby George’s final inquest was provisionally listed for November 17.
BHRUT was approached for comment but did not respond.
