Mother repeatedly ‘kept in dark’ about reason for baby’s death, inquest told

A grieving mother has told an inquest how secretive, evasive and “patronising” behaviour by NHS staff was “traumatic” and led to her spending years seeking the truth about her daughter’s death.

Jedidajah Otte told how she encountered a “stubborn refusal” by doctors and nurses at St Thomas’ hospital in London to tell her what was happening with three-month-old Aviva’s health.

The hospital insisted for 10 years that Aviva died of natural causes. However, last month it admitted that her death in January 2014 occurred as a result of contaminated feed given to her by staff, which led to her developing a deadly infection.

Otte, who is a Guardian journalist, also accused Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS trust (GSTT), which runs the hospital, of “dishonesty”, a “lack of transparency” and “misleading” her about the outbreak of Bacillus cereus, a food-borne bacteria in the baby feed, which caused Aviva’s death.

Otte also alleged that she was “repeatedly kept in the dark” about why her daughter’s health suddenly collapsed, “discouraged” from making inquiries and “told off” for looking at Aviva’s medical notes in her desire to understand her condition.

GSTT has denied being “dishonest” towards Otte. Two senior doctors from St Thomas’ who treated Aviva have told the inquest there was no “cover-up” of the reasons why she lost her life.

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Source: The Guardian, 5 October 2024