An NHS trust has pleaded guilty to two charges of failing to provide safe care following the death of a newborn baby.

Harry Richford died seven days after his emergency delivery at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate in November 2017. An inquest previously found his death was “wholly avoidable”.

His parents Tom and Sarah Richford have spent years campaigning for answers about why their son died and also fighting for better maternity safety.

The prosecution, which is the first of its kind, was brought by the Care Quality Commission.

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Trust today admitted causing Harry and Sarah Richford harm by failing to provide safe care and treatment.

After Harry’s mother went into labour concerns were raised about Harry’s heartbeat.

A decision was made that he needed to be delivered but it wasn’t until an hour later that an attempt to deliver him using forceps was made, and a further half an hour until he was born by emergency caesarean.

The inquest found that Harry should have been delivered within 30 minutes of the decision being made and that the locum doctor who attempted the forceps delivery was inexperienced and not properly assessed.

Harry suffered irreversible brain damage and died a week later.

Harry’s mother said the guilty plea in court shows the care she and Harry received was sub-standard, adding the family now have “some sort of justice for what happened”.

Sarah Richford told the Press Association: “We’ve got some level of justice that means that although Harry’s life was short, hopefully it’s made a difference and that other babies won’t die.”

“If somebody had done this before Harry was born he may be alive today,” she added.

Following the hearing at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court, Harry’s family issued this statement saying the trust’s plea was welcome “as it will avoid all the awful details [of Harry’s death] having to be replayed in public once more”.

The statement added: “For the period of 2020 following Harry’s inquest, neonatal deaths have fallen in the trust by 55% and still births by 20% compared to the previous seven-year average.

“This proves that with the right level of focus, leadership and attention, baby’s lives can be saved. Harry’s life and our sacrifice has made a significant difference here in East Kent and it must be maintained.

East Kent Hospitals chief executive, Susan Acott, said: “We are deeply sorry that we failed Harry, Sarah and the Richford family and apologise unreservedly for our failures in their care.

“We are determined to learn when things go wrong. Our midwives, our doctors and every member of our staff constantly strive to give good care every day. We have already made significant changes following Harry’s death and we will continue to do everything we can to learn from this tragedy.”

Related posts:

Gun salutes in major UK cities and on navy ships mark death of Prince Philip Prince Philip’s funeral to take place on Saturday and will be televised – with 3pm national silence Remembering the rain and the jokes at the last of the duke’s 22, 219 solo engagements Queen described loss of husband Philip as a ‘huge void in her life’, says Prince Andrew Heir to Tony Blair? Clearly, you wish, David Cameron Amazon to create more than 10,000 new UK jobs this year ‘It’s wrecking lives’: Banks launch emergency hotline to protect customers from scammers England and Wales records more than 70,000 excess deaths in private homes since start of COVID-19 pandemic ‘Listen to the science’: Sir David Attenborough’s plea to world leaders from namesake polar research ship ‘Cannibal killer’ David Harker among first denied parole under Helen’s Law Queen presents award over video link after withdrawing from COP26 Man walked 28 miles to murder ex-girlfriend and her son