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    14

    May 2021

    Last Updated: 13/05/2021
    Health
    Health

    Knaresborough family determined to 'leave a legacy' for baby daughter

    by Suzannah Rogerson

    | 14 May, 2021
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    The Pickup family were dealt a devastating blow when their daughter Matilda died in 2018 at just nine days old. The family have since been campaigning for changes to the way hospitals share information.

    whitney-andy-and-matilda-pickup

    A Knaresborough couple are continuing to campaign for change after an inquest found delays in performing a cesarean contributed to their baby's death.

    Whitney and Andy Pickup's daughter died on July 12, 2018 at just nine days old as a result of a severe brain injury caused by a lack of oxygen.

    Mrs Pickup had a difficult birth with her first child, Charlie, at Leeds General Infirmary. Matilda was born at Harrogate District Hospital.

    She believes if the notes from Charlie's birth had been requested by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust a cesarean could have been performed earlier and Matilda's death could have been prevented.

    This was confirmed at the inquest which found that intrapartum (medical intervention) delay contributed to Matilda's death.

    Since Matilda's death her parents have campaigned tirelessly for "Matilda's Law" which would make it mandatory for hospital trusts to share maternity notes if a mother changes hospitals.

    The pair, who have since welcomed baby Isaac in April 2020, have said they plan to resume conversations with NHS England and their local MP Andrew Jones about the law.



    Mrs Pickup said:

    "I'm glad it [the inquest] is over it was difficult listening to it all again but we are ok we are now pushing for her law so it doesn't happen to anyone else. Sometimes we do still think 'did it really happen?'. We are doing this for her, it's Matilda's legacy."


    The pair were keen to emphasise that the "service is great when it works" but improvements needed to be made.

    During Matilda's birth the inquest heard various opportunities were missed including delays in delivering Matilda via an emergency cesarean when her heart rate dropped.

    Following an unsuccessful forceps delivery, Matilda was born by caesarean section with severe brain damage.

    Mr Pickup said:

    "Whatever we do it can't bring her back but we just hope we can stop it happening to someone else. We had built momentum with the campaign but it was halted due to the pandemic. We respected the NHS needed that time to deal with covid. But now is the time to start again. We have a long way to go but we will keep going."


    He added:

    "She's with us everyday."




    Matilda was later admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary before being transferred to Martin House Hospice, where she died.

    The Pickups subsequently instructed medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the care provided by Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.

    Victoria Moss, the specialist medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Whitney and Andy, said:

    “The past few years have been very difficult for the couple who are continuing to grieve for their daughter while holding many questions over her death, but we’re pleased to have helped provide them with the answers they deserve.
    “The findings over the past few days demonstrate the need for improvements, in particular regarding the sharing of patient notes, and we now urge that the hospital trusts work together to implement these fully.
    “In the meantime will continue to support Whitney and Andy in their campaigning as they attempt to come to terms with their loss.”
    “We wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of Matilda. Following Matilda’s death, the Trust carried out an in-depth investigation, the detail of which have been shared the family and HM Coroner before and during the inquest.
    “Following this investigation and as part of our wider and ongoing commitment to providing high quality care to all of our patients, we have already made extensive improvements to our processes and training. This includes the process for requesting patient notes from other hospitals. These improvements were fully shared with the family and HM Coroner during the inquest.”