Baby's Smothering Death 'Was Preventable'

The death of a 10-day-old baby boy, smothered by his severely depressed mother, could have been prevented an independent inquiry has concluded.

Newborn Leo was smothered with a cushion at his home in Devon by his mother, Katy Norries, a teacher who had a long history of mental illness.

An investigation found that before Leo's death, four mental health experts, two GPs, at least seven midwives or maternity care assistants, a consultant obstetrician, a health visitor and a nurse practitioner saw Katy Norris.

The investigation concluded she was "passed from one mental health team to another because of concern about the severity of her mental health problems". But no one individual took responsibility for the co-ordination of her care.

It judged there was no evidence any of the staff involved in her care considered themselves to be "professionally accountable for their responsibility for the safeguarding" of baby Leo.

In addition, the investigation flagged up worries about how staff reacted after relatives of Norris raised concerns with health professionals. It found there was a "lack of timely and assertive intervention" in Norris' condition "despite the recognition that her mental health needs were complex and severe".

The investigation concluded: "The death of Baby Y [Leo] was preventable."

(H)