Tragedy at HRI birthing centre after baby Tily Bray died

Feb 4 2010 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A BABY tragically died of an infection at Huddersfield’s new birth centre less than an hour after being born.

Little Tily Ann Bray was born at 39 weeks at the Family Birth Centre at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary in the early hours of September 19 last year.

Midwives had considered transferring mother Tracey Bray, 34, and dad Stuart to Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax at around 2.20am.

But she was kept at HRI where Tily was born and later died of an infection the coroner described as “a one-off tragedy” for her Bradley parents and family.

Tily had been born at 4.30am but did not respond to midwives’ resuscitation attempts and sadly died at 5.25am.

An inquest at Huddersfield Coroner’s Court yesterday heard that Gina Augarde, the birth centre manager, was called into work at 5.30am to comfort and provide support to Mr and Mrs Bray.

Deputy Coroner Paul Marks read a report of pathologist Dr Philip Bateman which had a detailed history.

In it, Dr Bateman said that at 2.20am, when Mrs Bray was fully dilated, thoughts to transfer her to Calderdale Royal Hospital were discounted and she remained at HRI.