Kaiya Sonja Campbell · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On 1st October 2018 I commenced an investigation into the death of Kaiya Campbell. The investigation concluded on the 9th September 2019 and the conclusion was one of Narrative: Died from the complications of extreme prematurity following necessary medical intervention.

The medical cause of death was 1a) Extreme prematurity 19 weeks 6 days gestation

Kaiya Sonja Campbell’s mother had extensive bleeding and early rupture of the membranes. Following medical intervention Kaiya was born at Tameside General Hospital on 28th September 2019. She lived briefly but given her extreme prematurity died soon after the birth.

The inquest heard that Kaiya's mother was epileptic and prescribed anticonvulsant medication. She had been prescribed this for a number of years and fell within the guidance for management criteria;

Her GP practice did not have any records of recent medication being prescribed although there was clear evidence given to the inquest of regular request for repeat prescriptions being requested and dispensed by a local pharmacy. It was not possible to establish at the inquest why this gap in records existed;

When Kaiya's mother attended at her GP appointment and her midwifery booking-in appointment, the clinical staff involved did not appreciate the need to seek urgent guidance themselves from the neurology department regarding ongoing prescribing to reduce the risk of foetal abnormalities to the unborn child;

Despite her mother falling into the high risk category, a routine consultant appointment was offered. There was no clarity as to how this need was not picked up at the time.