{"id":121800,"date":"2021-04-19T10:47:58","date_gmt":"2021-04-19T10:47:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=121800"},"modified":"2021-04-19T10:47:58","modified_gmt":"2021-04-19T10:47:58","slug":"scandal-hit-nhs-trust-pleads-guilty-to-failures-over-death-of-7-day-old-harry-richford-in-first-case-of-its-kind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/world-news\/scandal-hit-nhs-trust-pleads-guilty-to-failures-over-death-of-7-day-old-harry-richford-in-first-case-of-its-kind\/","title":{"rendered":"Scandal-hit NHS trust pleads GUILTY to failures over death of 7-day-old Harry Richford in first case of its kind"},"content":{"rendered":"

A SCANDAL-HIT NHS trust has today pleaded guilty to failures over the death of a seven-day-old boy.<\/p>\n

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust admitted failing to provide safe care and treatment for Harry Richford and his mum Sarah. <\/p>\n


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An inquest found that Harry's death at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital in Margate in November 2017 was "wholly avoidable".<\/p>\n

The trust had been charged under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations, Folkestone Magistrates' Court in Kent heard.<\/p>\n

Care for mothers and newborn babies at the trust has been heavily criticised following a series of baby deaths.<\/p>\n

The first-of-its-kind prosecution comes after Harry's parents Tom and Sarah Richford spent years fighting for answers and campaigning for better maternity safety.<\/p>\n

Last year, the Care Quality Commission had claimed Harry and Sarah were exposed to \u201csignificant risk of avoidable harm\u201d.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the time, Sarah welcomed the charges and added: "It\u2019s monumental. <\/p>\n

"We wanted people to be held accountable for what happened and for some justification.<\/p>\n

\u201cI now feel like we have got answers from the inquest and I feel like we are being heard \u2014 and that Harry didn\u2019t die for no reason.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dad Tom added: \u201cHarry lived for only seven days but, ultimately, we wanted those seven days to make a difference on the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr Bill Kirkup, who investigated serious maternity failings in Morecambe Bay in 2015, led the independent review into East Kent Hospitals.<\/p>\n

Susan Acott, the trust's boss, said: \u201cWe are deeply sorry and apologise unreservedly for our failure to provide safe care, resulting in the death of Harry.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe recognise the mistakes and that Harry\u2019s family was not given the support and answers they needed at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n


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