Teesside coroner cries as she delivers verdict on Middlesbrough baby Noah Finn who died at just six weeks old

Teesside’s senior coroner, Clare Bailey, cried as she delivered her verdict at the inquest of Noah Finn on Wednesday afternoon.

The Middlesbrough baby was born at the James Cook University Hospital on January 6, 2016 and died just six weeks later, having never left the hospital.

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An inquest at Teesside Coroners Court heard that Noah had died due to rare complications resulting from a forceps birth.

Following a normal pregnancy, Noah’s mother Sarah Reed endured a lengthy and difficult labour and was told several hours into it that her baby was facing the wrong way.

Medics attempted to manually rotate Noah before deciding to deliver him using Keilland’s forceps in a procedure referred to at the inquest as appropriate, straight forward and uncomplicated.

Unable to breathe at birth, Noah was rushed to the neo-natal unit where tests later found injuries to his spine and carotid artery that compromised his respiratory system.

As they gave evidence, a number of medics were unable to explain how Noah had sustained the injuries, with those involved in the delivery insisting no excessive force was used.

Consultant Dr Steven Wild, who conducted an independent review into the circumstances of Noah’s birth, said he was mystified as to the cause of the injuries but could not find any evidence of sub-optimal care from those involved in his delivery.

Experts said that there was a one in 80,000 chance of Noah sustaining the injuries that he did, while the inquest heard that he may have had pre-existing brain damage that could have affected his muscle tone and left him more vulnerable to injury during the rotation procedure.

Coroner Clare Bailey recorded a narrative verdict, saying that there was no evidence of excessive force being used.

She said: “The risk of sustaining these injuries is one in 80,000.

“All medical procedures carry risks and Sarah consented to the instrumental delivery.

“I accept the evidence that Noah’s injuries occurred during the rotation part of delivery, it is possible that he had pre-existing brain damage that made him vulnerable to this.

“It is my conclusion that Noah died as a result of rare complications of Keilland’s forceps delivery.”

Tearfully, she added: “Finally, I would like to acknowledge the dignity and bravery of Noah’s parents in dealing with this.”

The inquest heard that the trust responsible for the James Cook University Hospital has introduced further training and assessment measures relating to forceps deliveries since Noah’s birth.