Inquest into the death Baby Cassian Curry at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust | 19th-22nd April 2022

All requests for interviews and further information should be directed to Scala

The Inquest into the death of Baby Cassian Curry will take place at Sheffield Medico Legal Centre, Watery Street, Sheffield, S3 7ES between 19-22^nd April.  The Conclusion is expected to be handed down on Friday 22^nd April. This is a neonatal death and relates to treatment at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust where Cassian was born on 3 April 2021 and died in the early hours of 5 April 2021. 

This media release is sent on behalf of Cassian’s parents – James and Karolina, and their solicitor, Fay Marshall from Switalskis Solicitors. 

Baby Cassian was born at 28 weeks. He was an IVF baby, born after multiple unsuccessful attempts. Cassian was small but strong and his parents were told that there were no problems that would affect his survival outside the usual prematurity survival statistics. 

Issues to be addressed at the Inquest 

1. Cassian required Total Parental Nutrition (TPN) and the delivery method decided upon was via Umbilical Venous Catheter (“UVC”). The Inquest will explore whether the UVC had been incorrectly sited, too close to the heart, and whether there was a failure to review its position and re-site it. 

2. Cassian was born on 3 April 2021 (Easter Saturday). It was a bank holiday weekend and there has been a suggestion of understaffing and a lack of experienced staff over that weekend. This issue will also be explored at the Inquest.  

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – maternity services rated “inadequate” 

Following an inspection by the CQC In March 2021 (shortly before Cassian’s death), the maternity services at the hospital were rated as “inadequate”. Further inspections by the CQC in October and November 2021 led to the Trust being issued with a Warning Notice under Section 29A of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. The warning notice told the trust that they needed to make significant improvements in the quality and safety of healthcare provided.

https://www.cqc.org.uk/provider/RHQ/reports 

Media Interviews 

Mr and Mrs Curry will not be giving any media interviews at this time, however their solicitor, Fay Marshall (Switalskis Solicitors), will read a statement from the family immediately after the Coroner has delivered the Inquest Conclusion. 

Natalie Rodgers from Scala will be at the Inquest Conclusion and contactable on 07881 780608.

Image taken and owned by Scala.