Parents of baby blood poisoning victim to meet hospital chiefs

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jun/06/parents-blood-poisoning-baby-hospital-investigation

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The parents of a nine-day old baby who died after contracting an infection from a suspected contaminated drip are to meet hospital chiefs at a review into the tragedy.

Yousef Al-Kharboush died on Sunday after contracting a deadly bacterial infection at the neonatal intensive care unit at St Thomas' hospital in London.

Eighteen babies across nine hospitals have been struck down with blood poisoning brought on by an infection "strongly linked" to an intravenous fluid supplied by London-based pharmaceutical firm ITH Pharma.

They had all been given a fluid called parenteral nutrition - which is supposed to deliver a variety of nutrients intravenously when a baby is unable to feed on its own.

Southwark coroner Dr Andrew Harris is treating the death of Yousef, from London Bridge, central London, as "unnatural".

The baby's parents have been invited to a meeting with the coroner along with Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust and ITH Pharma to decide whether a postmortem examination is needed and what further steps should be taken.

A statement on behalf of the Southwark coroner said: "The death of Yousef Al-Kharboush, aged nine days, of London Bridge area, Southwark, on 1 June at St Thomas hospital, has been reported to the coroner.

"An investigation was opened on 5 June by the senior coroner, as he has reason to suspect that the deceased died an unnatural death.

"Dr Andrew Harris, senior coroner, is holding a review meeting in public, to which interested persons are invited to make submissions.

"The parents, the NHS Trust and an intravenous feed manufacturer are interested persons.

"The coroner will decide at this meeting whether an autopsy is required and the initial steps to be taken in the investigation."