East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust pleads guilty over death of a baby
Watch: report by ITV News Meridian's Sarah Saunders:
In the first criminal case of its kind, a hospital has been prosecuted over the death of a baby in its care and pleaded guilty.
The Care Quality Commission brought the action against East Kent Hospitals Trust after baby Harry Richford died seven days after his delivery at the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate four years ago. The trust was accused of exposing Harry Richford and his mother Sarah to significant risk of avoidable harm.
The story:
Harry Richford suffered irreversible brain damage, when he was born at the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother hospital and died a week later.
The coroner at his inquest found there had been a series of errors and failings - and that his death had been "wholly avoidable".
After the tragedy baby Harry's parents Tom and Sarah Richford fought to find out what had happened to their son and campaigned for better maternity safety.
Today in the first case of its kind, the trust admitted failing to provide safe care and treatment to Harry and his mother Sarah Richford under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations.
In a statement, East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust Chief Executive, Susan Acott, said: “We are deeply sorry that we failed Harry, Sarah and the Richford family and apologise unreservedly for our failures in their care."
Tom and Sarah Richford were in court on Monday to hear the trust enter a guilty plea to the amended charge. Before the hearing Sarah Richford said,
"We don't blame individuals, we blame the fact that so many individuals were allowed to make so many mistakes."
Care for mothers and newborn babies at the trust has been heavily criticised following a series of baby deaths.
Dr Rebecca Martin, Chief Medical Officer- East Kent Hospital's Trust
Sentencing will take place at a later date.
To find out more about the changes the Trust is making to their maternity service, click here.