Sonny Taylor’s heartbroken parents Eve and Thomas said they ‘don’t think we’ll ever get over leaving hospital and not taking our baby with us to start a new chapter in our family together’
A three-day-old baby tragically died from sepsis after medics failed to wake his expectant mother for crucial observations on a “chaotic” maternity ward. Little Sonny Taylor sustained devastating brain damage after being deprived of oxygen following a period where he was left “distressed for a significant amount of time.”
The infant was delivered in a “poor condition” via caesarean section at Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital in Bangor, Wales, after medics discovered his heart rate had dropped dangerously low.
Hours before the birth, midwifery staff had allowed his 29-year-old mother Eve to continue sleeping rather than waking her for vital observations and monitoring Sonny’s heartbeat, according to an internal NHS investigation report.
Eve – who had been hospitalised after her waters broke at 36 weeks pregnant – later woke up and reported feeling reduced foetal movement, reports Wales Online.
Rather than rushing her directly to theatre for emergency surgery, medical staff incorrectly moved her to a labour ward, causing further delays despite a registrar having already confirmed Sonny’s dangerously low heart rate.
A further 15-minute delay occurred before Sonny’s delivery, with Eve describing the unfolding events as “frantic, chaotic and terrifying.”
Sonny was transferred from neo-natal intensive care to palliative care with Eve and partner Thomas’s consent. Little Sonny died at just three days old from brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation and sepsis.
The devastated couple pursued legal action against Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board and have secured an undisclosed settlement. Opening up for the first time about the tragic loss of her son, she shared: “When we found out I was expecting we were overjoyed. My pregnancy seemed to be going fine.”
She praised her community midwife’s care but noted a drastic change after her waters broke, saying: “The care I received from my community midwife was excellent, however, that all changed when my waters broke. When I went into hospital I never could have imagined what was to follow.”
Describing the harrowing experience, she said: “When I awoke Sonny wasn’t moving as much and I immediately knew something wasn’t right. What followed was frantic, chaotic, and terrifying. I went to sleep at my emergency C-section not knowing if I would wake up or whether my baby would make it.”
Upon regaining consciousness, she recalled the heart-wrenching news: “When I came round it was absolutely awful hearing how poorly Sonny was. The care Sonny received while in neo-natal intensive care was incredible. The doctors and nurses treated and cared for him like he was their own.”
Despite the exceptional care, she added: “However, by that point it felt like it was too late, and our little boy wasn’t going to make it. We’ll forever cherish those precious but too few moments we got to spend with Sonny, but it broke us having to say goodbye to him. Sadly, what happened to us wasn’t an isolated incident and you see and read too many stories about maternity care issues.”
She concluded with a plea for improved care, stating: “No family wants to find themselves in the position we have but the least they deserve is for their voices to be heard so care improves for others.”
Thomas added: “The day Sonny was born should have been one of the happiest of our lives, but it turned to absolute despair. I don’t think we’ll ever get over leaving hospital and not taking Sonny with us to start a new chapter in our family together.
“It’s difficult that Sonny isn’t at home with us, growing up and causing mischief. Sonny will always be part of our family, and we’ll always love him. However, we’ll always believe he was badly let down when he needed help the most.”
Eve attended Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital on September 29, 2022, where Sonny’s heart rate was monitored as normal. Later that afternoon, Eve was admitted to the maternity ward after signs of potential infection were identified.
At 6pm, Eve’s observations and Sonny’s heart rate and movements were classed as normal. But as Eve was asleep at 10pm, observations and monitoring were not carried out.
She awoke at 1.30am on September 30 concerned about Sonny’s reduced movement. A registrar was called and established Sonny had an abnormal heart rate.
Eve was wrongly transferred to the labour ward, arriving at 1.43am, and a call for an emergency caesarean made. Sonny was delivered at 2.03am but died just after 7pm on October 3, 2022.
Through NHS Wales, the board apologised for the “failings identified” within the investigation report. The investigation report found a midwife should have woken Eve and performed observations and listened to Sonny’s heart rate at 10pm.
Eve should have been moved directly to theatre from the maternity ward, rather than being transferred to the labour ward. Tests on the umbilical cord revealed that Sonny “had been distressed for a significant amount of time.”
The investigation team stated it was unclear whether Sonny’s heart rate was normal or abnormal at 10pm on 22 September, but if it was low, an earlier decision for delivery would likely have been made “which would likely have changed the outcome” for Sonny.
Sara Burns, the medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Eve, commented: “Sonny’s loved ones remain utterly devastated by his death and the extremely tragic circumstances surrounding it. Eve and Thomas understandably had serious concerns about the maternity care their family received.”
She added: “Sadly, investigations have confirmed those concerns, highlighting a number of troubling failures. While we’re pleased to have secured this settlement and appreciate the Health Board’s co-operation in resolving the case promptly, no amount of compensation can ever begin to makeup for what the family has been through.”
Carol Shillabeer, chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, expressed her condolences, stating: “We would like to offer our sincere sympathies to the family of baby Sonny who sadly died in 2022.”
She continued: “We are deeply sorry for their loss and for the failures in care that occurred. We recognise the profound impact this has had on Sonny’s family, and we apologise unreservedly for the distress caused.
“We have accepted the findings of the review into this incident and acknowledge that the care provided did not meet the standards we expect for the families we serve.
“We are committed to learning from this tragedy and have made the necessary improvements to reduce the risk of similar incidents occurring in the future. All immediate actions identified following this incident have been completed.
“We know that no actions can undo what has happened, but we are determined to learn from this case and to continue improving the safety and quality of maternity care for all families across North Wales.”