Baby Jack's inquest resumes

Tuesday 15 January 2019

The inquest into the death of a baby who died at the PEH in 2014 just 14 hours after his birth has resumed.

Proceedings are going to continue throughout this week after initially starting in October 2017. Since then three independent experts have been appointed to give evidence, which they started doing yesterday.

The Court itself is trying to answer the question of by what means Baby Jack died. 

Health & Social Care also issued a statement last night to both offer its condolences to the parents and also reassure the public that there has been significant change to the way maternity care is offered since this incident.

Deputy Heidi Soulsby said anyone with concerns about what they see or hear during the inquest could speak to the Head of Maternity at the hospital to learn about what has changed. 

"On behalf of Health and Social Care I would again like to express to the family of baby Jack how deeply sorry we are for their loss," Committee President Deputy Heidi Soulsby said.

"HSC has undertaken a huge amount of work following this tragic case in 2014, which has led to significant change in the way we deliver maternity care in the Bailiwick. While it would not be appropriate for HSC to comment further until after the inquest has concluded, should any expectant parent be concerned about anything they see or hear during the Inquest, I would encourage them to contact Elaine Torrance on707430 so they can discuss direct with our Head of Maternity."

At the inquest, the three experts in their fields, Neonatology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Pathology, started giving evidence when the inquest opened on Monday morning, each providing the court with their take on the matter. So far, two of them have faced questions from Judge Philip Robey and a range of Advocates, each representing different parties involved. Those two have given their conclusions.

Judge Robey once again emphasised the real purpose of this inquest before things kicked off - it is his job is to determine how Jack died, not why or because of whom.

However, it could provide some form of closure for his parents, who have since moved away from Guernsey yet are still fighting for answers about their son's death, five years after the sad day in 2014. 

Pictured: Guernsey's Princess Elizabeth Hospital. 

Outside of court, heads have rolled since the matter came to the attention of the public. The Nursing and Midwifery Council conducted a full scale review into the services the Loveridge Ward were offering, which ended with a damning conclusion of poor performance.

Since then, four midwives have been struck off - two of them were directly linked with this case. 

Once again the performance of the midwifery team in 2014 is being discussed, but the role of doctors is also being brought to the forefront of the inquest, with each expert giving their take on whether performance had an impact on the death.

More to come throughout the week..