DHSC apologises after baby boy inquest

The Department of Health and Social Care has apologised after an inquest into the death of a nine-month-old boy found staff failed to follow standard procedures.

The baby boy died after suffering a brain injury through asphyxia at birth, thought to have been caused in childbirth – where there was a 40-minute gap after the birth of his twin sibling.

Coroner of Inquests John Needham said staff had ‘missed repeated opportunities’.

The DHSC has now issued a ‘sincere and unreserved apology’ to the boy’s family, and says it accepts all comments and recommendations made by the Coroner.

Health and Social Care Minister David Ashford says his thoughts are with the boy’s family and offers his sincere condolences on their unimaginable loss.

He added there have been failings at both a personal and organisation level, and the department will try to rectify them.