A couple left devastated over the loss of their newborn baby are desperately searching for answers over a death they believe could have been avoided. Baby Zach died on November 17 last year, just 14 hours after being born.
Heartbroken parents Tim and Hannah Taylor-Smith were told by doctors that their son had died from Group B Strep, otherwise known as GBS. This can be a life-threatening condition for new-born babies.
Following concerns raised over the care of Zach, who died at Royal Derby Hospoital, an investigation into the circumstances of his death has been launched by the University Hospitals Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. It is understood a full inquest will take place in due course, DerbyshireLive reports.
The hospital trust has expressed its "heartfelt condolences" to Zach’s family but said it cannot yet comment on the circumstances at this stage of the investigation. From what was expected to be one of life's most memorable and joyous moments in seeing their new child born, the experience has caused “utter despair” for the devastated couple.
Several weeks on, grieving Tim and Hannah want to open up about Zach’s life and their own experiences to raise public awareness of the Group B Strep infection, so other parents do not suffer the traumatic episode of losing a new-born child this way. They say the condition and its devastating consequences are unknown to many people – even to those who suffer from it.
They feel if they had been made aware of the infection during Hannah’s pregnancy then Zach may have survived and he would still be in their arms today. Last year was to be a memorable year for Tim and Hannah who were expecting their fifth child until the tragedy unfolded in front of their own eyes.
Moments that still give the couple sleepless nights and horror flashbacks. Tim and Hannah say Zach will always stay very close to their hearts.
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Tim said: “We’ve got four other children, but Zach was going to be our fifth and final piece of the puzzle. To hold him for the first time was amazing.
“There is no pain like knowing nothing can save your precious baby. A feeling of utter despair washed over us both as we watched our son pass away.
“We had our future planned with him and everything ready to bring him home. To leave that hospital empty handed and return to our house without him was pure agony.”
After Zach’s death, subsequent tests showed that he was found to be positive for Group B Strep. Group B Strep is a type of bacterial infection which lives in the intestines, rectum and vagina. It is said that between 20 per cent and 40 per cent of women in the UK have the infection.
Information online states most women carrying GBS will have no symptoms. But it can occasionally cause serious infection in young babies and, very rarely, during pregnancy before labour. It can cause serious infection such as sepsis, pneumonia or meningitis.
But Tim and Hannah, who now live in Staffordshire, strongly feel that the care Zach received in hospital was "not good enough" during his very short life. They feel there are serious questions for health experts to answer.
They allege that despite requests made a doctor was not called to check on Zach’s condition for up to seven hours either side of hospital staff changing shifts on that morning. Only when he was checked, it was then too late – the parents claim.
Tim said: “His death was avoidable, and care wasn’t up to what we believe to be good enough. We and the midwives were concerned about his presentation and called for a doctor to come and check him over. They didn’t come. Another call was made but (a doctor) still didn’t come.
“Currently an inquest has been opened by the coroner to investigate further. “
There is also a wider aspect to the family’s “avoidable” death claim and that is surrounding the issue of pregnancy screening. Tim added that he and his partner were not informed about GBS during pregnancy. They believe if they were they then antibiotics would have been prescribed to Hannah to avoid any life-threatening effects to her son.
He said: “We weren’t made aware of anything or options. In our eyes it was avoidable because if we were offered antibiotics then and Hannah was treated with antibiotics during labour then this might not have been the story we are telling today. From the information we’ve been given by doctors then yes I think he would have survived. It would have massively reduced the infection.”
The Trust which runs Royal Derby Hospital confirmed the hospital was starting a trial to screen women after 35 weeks pregnant. Dr James Crampton, executive medical director at University Hospitals Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our heartfelt condolences remain with Tim and his family at this incredibly difficult time. The loss of a baby is tragic and, whilst rare, we take these cases very seriously and we are investigating Zachary's case to make sure his family get full answers to their concerns.
“Under national guidance Group B Streptococcus screening is not routinely offered to all pregnant women, but the Trust has joined a national research trial that looks to screen women who are over 35 weeks into their pregnancy.”
To help combat their grief and despair, the couple are determined to raise awareness of the Group B Strep condition so other parents don’t suffer like they have done. They have launched a Go Fund Me page which aims to provide funds for the Group B Strep Support charity (GBSS). The charity aims to stop group B Strep infection in babies and aims to educates new and expectant parents, doctors, and midwives.
Tim said: “I’ve got four children and I was completely oblivious to the condition. My wife has given birth four times and she was completely oblivious to it as well. I’ve got friends and family who have multiple children themselves and they don’t know nothing about it. There is so much unawareness out there of what the condition can cause.
“No one has explained why Zach got Group B Step and I don’t think it is an answer we will ever get direct. It’s a bacterial infection that lives within the body. Anybody can have it anytime without being symptomatic. It doesn’t normally cause the person who’s got it genuine concerns. But a baby has a different immune system and if it is transmitted to the baby in the birth process – then the baby suffers. It can cause sepsis and brain damage, which Zach suffered too. “
Tim and Hannah are calling for Group B Strep screening during pregnancy which would allow important checks to be carried out. It is said this is done in other countries but not under the UK’s NHS system.
For more information about Group B Strep you can visit the Go Fund Me page here
Their Go Fund Me page says: “We need to fight for screening. GBS is the number one cause of neonatal deaths in the UK which is staggering when it is not screened for.
“There are many countries who carry out routine screenings and there is statistical data to show a dramatic decrease in deaths. Our NHS currently don’t routinely swab despite this being an early preventable infection. Mothers can be given antibiotics in labour four-hourly to prevent transmission.
“There needs to be a drive for more education to mothers and NHS staff. If screening isn’t to go ahead then hyper vigilance in monitoring babies at birth is a must.”
Tim and Hannah also are looking to set up local support groups for people who find themselves in a child/baby loss situation.
Tim added: "We also have aspirations to work closely with the existing charities at some stage too to help bring about change for the future care offered to pregnant women."
