Newborn who died at QEUH was 'active baby until the last minutes', inquiry hears

The parents of a baby who died in hospital have told a probe that their lives have been shattered.

Karen and Martin Murphy provided a victim impact statement to the fatal accident inquiry into daughter Freya Murphy’s death.

Freya Murphy passed away at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on July 28, 2018.

Freya was aged just seven days and 12 hours old.

Her intensive care had been stopped in her “best interests” having suffered a brain injury likely linked to a bacterial infection.

The FAI at Glasgow Sheriff Court commenced with Barry Divers speaking to Freya’s parents, who are in attendance.

The sheriff said: “I express my greatest sympathy for the tragic loss of Freya.

“I am acutely aware that any words we give are in the face of your overwhelming loss.”

A statement prepared by Freya’s mum and dad was then read to the hearing by the family’s lawyer Alan Rodgers.

It said: “I want to take the chance to share something about our beloved daughter. She was our first baby.

“We were surprised by her responsiveness to her daddy’s voice and her change in movements when different music played.

“She was an active baby until the last minutes before she was born.

“Our lives were completely shattered when Freya arrived seriously ill.

“Over the years, we continue to be shocked that we had no warning that she was struggling and there was no urgency in our care.

“We are deeply concerned about Strep B as it has been present in subsequent pregnancies.

“Most developed countries routinely swab for Strep B as part of antenatal care however this is absent in the UK.

“We ask that you remember that Freya wasn’t just a newborn baby that died – she would be six years old and in primary two.

“We have missed lifetime memories of our precious daughter and the void left by her death is unimaginable.

“We have suffered indescribable pain and continue to do so.

“Our mental and physical health continues to deteriorate dramatically, and every day of our lives are impacted.

“Our confidence has been shattered, our ability to work, our concentration and our friendships.

“There have been no areas in our lives that has been untouched and our other children suffer as their big sister is largely missed.

“We hope this investigation into our daughter’s death, the health board and individuals will reflect on the huge span of our loss and will be open to changes that will improve procedures and ensure this doesn’t happen to another family.”

A joint minute of agreed evidence was then read to the probe by fiscal depute Amanda Allan.

The hearing was told that mum Karen, of Cambuslang, was a 32-year-old teacher, and there had been no initial problems with the pregnancy.

Reduced fatal movements were reported on July 11, 2018, for the first time.

Karen went into labour on the night of July 20, 2018, and was asked to push at 6.30am the next morning.

Karen was told 30 minutes later that she could rest from pushing but opted to continue as it was more comfortable with her contractions.

Doctor Amy Sinclair left Karen’s care after 9am to perform a delivery to another patient and later returned.

Freya was then delivered at 9.31am and taken for emergency neonatal assistance with consultants.

The newborn required chest compressions, and her heart rate increased to 100 beats per minute.

She was put into ICU, and she was suspected to have suffered multiple organ failure.

Freya remained in intensive care from July 21 until July 28, where she was found to have suffered a “significant brain injury” and was completely dependent on a ventilator.

It was deemed that intensive care was not in Freya’s “best interests” and she was then put on to palliative care.

She was pronounced dead at 9.50pm aged seven days and 12 hours.

A post-mortem carried out gave Freya’s cause of death as ‘global ischemic brain injury associated with chorioamnionitis’.

Doctor Michael Munro, 58, who did a report on Freya’ death and told the hearing that the brain injury was most likely linked to the ‘Group B Strep’ bacterial infection which effects 45,000 mothers.

The witness stated that a third of these mothers would require antibiotics, which would affect a baby’s “balance of bacteria” and “quality of life.”

Miss Allan asked Dr Munro if an earlier delivery would have made a difference to Freya’s life.

He replied: “Early delivery would have to have made a difference but as to how much difference, that’s the problem I can’t say.”

The inquiry continues before Sheriff Divers.