TOT DEATH RAP

Midwife suspended after nine-day-old tot dies in beleaguered maternity unit

Holly Parkinson made a string of errors at Barrow’s Furness General hospital, Cumbria, in November 2008

Chloe Mayer

Published: 1:59, 20 Aug 2016
Updated: 10:39, 2 Nov 2016

A MIDWIFE whose failings contributed to the death of a baby boy has been suspended.

Holly Parkinson was helping to care for Joshua Titcombe at a beleaguered maternity unit.

Joshua Titcombe died in 2008 when he was only nine days old — Joshua Titcombe died in 2008 when he was only nine days oldCredit: PA:Press Association

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The Nursing and Midwifery Council heard she made a string of errors at Barrow’s Furness General hospital, Cumbria, in November 2008.

These included not reporting Joshua’s low temperature to doctors.

Her failures "denied Joshua any opportunity to be seen, assessed and treated by a paediatrician", the panel said.

Joshua was one of 11 babies to die after being treated at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust over a nine-year period.

Holly Parkinson was told she cannot practise for nine months — Holly Parkinson was told she cannot practise for nine monthsCredit: PA:Press Association

Joshua was one of 11 babies to die at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust — Joshua was one of 11 babies to die at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS TrustCredit: Alamy

Mrs Parkinson was among a number of midwives probed after an inquest five years ago heard staff repeatedly missed chances to spot and treat a serious infection which led to Joshua’s death after just nine days.

Mrs Parkinson cannot practise for nine months, after which her case will be reviewed.

She has apologised to the baby’s family but still remains in denial and “not fully accepting” of her role in what happened, the hearing in London was told.

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