New inquest to open into death of baby at Bristol Children’s Hospital

Parents who have battled for six years to get the truth about the death of their baby say they are a step closer to justice.

An investigation revealed a “catalogue of failings” contributed to the death of eight-week-old Ben Condon at Bristol Children’s Hospital in April 2015.

Just two weeks after the damning report into his death, a High Court has approved an application by his parents, Allyn and Jenny Condon, to quash the original inquest verdict and has ordered a fresh inquest.

The couple hope this will enable them to finally get the truth about Ben’s death.

Jenny and Allyn have battled for six years to get the truth about the death of their baby and say this ruling brings them a step closer to justice – photo courtesy of Novum Law

“For more than six years, we have battled to find out what happened to our beautiful baby boy,” said Allyn and Jenny in a joint statement.

“We’ve been cast aside, disregarded, lied to and deceived, when all we wanted as Ben’s parents was to understand why he lost his life and ensure that no other family has to endure the same heartache we have.

“Today’s ruling gets us closer to closure after our long fight for justice and we will now focus on the new inquest.”

They urged other families fighting for the truth not to give up hope.

Responding to the High Court decision on Wednesday, a spokesperson for University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Bristol Children’s Hospital, said: “We accept the decision of the High Court and will assist the coroner with the new inquest. We remain deeply sorry for the distress we have caused to Mr and Mrs Condon.”

Ben Condon died at Bristol Children’s Hospital in 2015 aged just eight weeks old – photo courtesy of Allyn and Jenny Condon

Ben was born early at 29 weeks, weighing just under three pounds. He soon started to thrive and, after six weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit at Southmead Hospital, his parents were allowed to take him home.

Just three days later, Ben developed a small cough. When his condition worsened, he was transferred to Bristol Children’s Hospital where doctors diagnosed Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV), a respiratory infection caused by a virus.

Most children make a full recovery, but Ben’s condition worsened and on April 17 2015, the eight-week-old baby died following two cardiac arrests.

The investigation into his death found failings that meant “several missed opportunities to give him the best possible chance of recovering from his illness”.

Ombudsman Rob Behrens said: “This is every parent’s worst nightmare and they deserved better from those they trusted with their child.

“The injustice of never knowing whether things might have been different is something they will have to live with forever.”

University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust apologised for its failings.

Seven weeks after Ben’s death, his parents were told by the trust that he did have a secondary bacterial infection but was not administered antibiotics until an hour before he died.

In June 2016, an inquest was held at Avon Coroner’s Court, where a narrative verdict was recorded, saying Ben’s death was caused by acute respiratory distress syndrome, hMPV and prematurity. Bacterial infection and sepsis were not mentioned.

Jenny and Allyn want to ensure that no other family has to endure the same heartache they have – photo courtesy of Allyn and Jenny Condon

Following the High Court decision on Wednesday, Mary Smith from Novum Law, who is representing the family, said: “No family should ever have to battle like they have just to get to the truth of what happened to their child.

“When things go wrong, it is incumbent upon NHS trust’s to be open and honest with patients and their families. The additional and avoidable trauma Allyn, Jenny and the rest of their family have endured since Ben’s death cannot be understated.”

Main photo courtesy of Allyn and Jenny Condon

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