A new-born baby who died in an Angus midwifery unit may have had a greater chance at survival if she had been born in a larger hospital, according to the chief medic who battled to save her.
Tragic Nevaeh Stewart died less than four hours after she was born in the pool at Montrose Royal Infirmary’s community midwifery unit, and the cause of her death could not be established by post-mortem or an NHS probe.
A fatal accident inquiry at Forfar Sheriff Court heard how a neonatal transport team was dispatched to take the “pale” but seemingly healthy baby back to Ninewells Hospital in 2012 — but arrived to find midwives resuscitating her.
Dr Nicholas Connolly, now a consultant paediatrician at the Dundee hospital, was a specialist registrar sent to Montrose with advanced neonatal nurse practitioner Pamela Irving on the morning of September 30.
The pair expected to arrange a “safe” transfer for Nevaeh via the A90, without flashing blue lights, but were instead forced to take over the baby’s breathing, using advanced techniques and drugs in an attempt to stabilise her.
Although Dr Connolly was able to restore a healthy pulse, this soon faded and Nevaeh’s death was recorded after parents Kimberly and Gary Stewart consented to cease resuscitation attempts.
Asked by fiscal depute Nicola Ross if he would make different decisions today, he said: “Obviously I have thought about this a lot.
“I would make the same decisions with the information I had at that time.
“It does not mean I do not regret this.”
Mrs Ross asked: “Is it possible to say Nevaeh would have survived if she had been born in a hospital?”
“No.”
When asked whether sick babies would have a greater chance of living if born at the hospital, Dr Connolly said: “I think their (general) chances are greater at Ninewells because of access to specialist services more quickly.”
For the health board, Mark Fitzpatrick asked whether babies could “collapse for a reason that is never determined” at any facility, including Ninewells.
Dr Connolly confirmed this.
“We would have expected some warning of what was going to happen,” he said.
“We don’t know why she was so unwell.”
The inquiry previously heard Mr Stewart, 30, from Auchenblae in the Mearns, criticise the lack of an emergency response to his daughter’s case, and called Montrose a “blackspot” in such situations.
The inquiry continues.
