Inquest into baby death in 2014 told of years of 'dishonesty' by hospital

A grieving mother has told an inquest how secretive, evasive and "patronising" behaviour by NHS staff was "traumatic" and led to her spending years seeking the truth about her daughter's death.

- Denis Campbell

Jedidajah Otte told how she encountered a "stubborn refusal" by doctors and nurses at St Thomas' hospital in London to tell her what was happening with three-month-old Aviva's health.

The hospital insisted for 10 years that Aviva died of natural causes. However, last month it admitted her death in January 2014 occurred as a result of contaminated feed given to her by staff, which led to her developing a deadly infection.

Otte, who is a Guardian journalist, also accused Guy's and St Thomas' NHS trust (GSTT), which runs the hospital, of "dishonesty", a "lack of transparency" and "misleading" her about the Bacillus cereus, a foodborne bacterium in the baby feed that caused Aviva's death.

Otte also alleged she was "repeatedly kept in the dark" about why her daughter's health suddenly collapsed, discouraged from making inquiries and "told off" for looking at Aviva's medical notes.

GSTT has denied being "dishonest" towards Otte. Two senior doctors from St Thomas' who treated Aviva have told the inquest there was no "cover-up" of the reasons why she lost her life.