Death of baby girl at Glasgow hospital to be probed seven years on

EXCLUSIVE: Crown Office confirms a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the death of little Sophia Smith will be held to establish why the 11-day-old infant died.

A Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held into the death of a baby girl who died almost seven years ago at the country’s flagship hospital.

Little Sophia Smith was just 11 days old when she died unexpectedly at the Royal Hospital for children on the QEUH campus in Glasgow.

Her parents Theresa and Matthew, from Greenock, have been battling ever since for answers.

But today a decision was confirmed that a Fatal Accident Inquiry will be held into her death.

The Crown and Procurator Fiscal Service confirmed “the Lord Advocate has decided that it is in the public interest to hold a Fatal Accident Inquiry to examine the full circumstances surrounding this tragic death”.

“The decision follows a thorough and independent investigation by the Procurator Fiscal.”

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But a spokesman stated: “After giving the case careful consideration, Crown Counsel have concluded, based on the available evidence, that there will be no criminal proceedings brought as a result of the death.

“Should additional evidence come to light that decision may be reconsidered.”

Procurator Fiscal Andy Shanks, who leads on fatalities investigations for COPFS, said: “The Lord Advocate has decided that a discretionary Fatal Accident Inquiry should be held into the causes of this tragic death to ensure that there can be a full public hearing of the facts of the case.

“The Procurator Fiscal has now started work to initiate this inquiry and there are a number of legal steps which must be taken before it can commence.

“Sophia’s family will be kept informed of what will happen next.”

The parents are not allowed to talk about their little girl’s death because of legal restrictions but a family friend said last night they were pleased they may finally get the answers they have been seeking for so long.

Sophia’s death has been part of Police Scotland’s Operation Quadric which has been examining other deaths within the QEUH campus.

Sophia had a few issues at birth but Teresa and Matthew were not overly concerned at first.

However, when she was only a few hours old she was transferred to the QEUH which they were told was better equipped to help her to a speedy recovery .

Over the course of a few days the machines helping to keep the tot alive grew fewer in number and about six days after her admission to the Glasgow hospital medical staff started talking about her getting home.

Teresa and Matthew were told Sophia could be home by Easter but they took her little broken body home that weekend.

Everything had changed on her tenth day. Her mum had told staff all day she thought Sophia looked pale, uncomfortable and was struggling to move but a family friend said: “She was made to feel like an over anxious mother.”

The tot had picked up a rare toxin infection, MSSA-PVL, similar to MRSA, a variant of staphylococcus aureus, which later developed into sepsis. And within hours, on April 11 2017, she died in her mother’s arms.

As her parents cradled her in their arms in her last moments her skin was peeling as it rotted away.

Their friend said: “It was traumatic for them to see their little girl suffer the most undignified death.“

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