£75,000 fine over death of baby

A technician's mistake at Guy's Hospital led to the death

The trust which runs Guy's Hospital in London has been fined £75,000 after a mix-up with a prescription led to the death of a premature baby.

Jada Pilkington Asanye was given five times too much glucose when the wrong button was pressed on a pharmaceutical machine, Southwark Crown Court heard.

She was born at 24 weeks but died a day after the "human error" in April 2006.

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust admitted supplying a medicinal product without following the appropriate prescription.

In a statement the trust said it expressed its "heartfelt sympathy" to Jada's family.

Judge Nicholas Loraine-Smith said the girl's death was a "tragedy" for which no fine could properly compensate.

Previous error

The court heard how an investigation at Guy's discovered a technician had "pressed the wrong button" when preparing a colourless nutritional mix for Jada, comprising glucose, water and protein.

As a result it contained more than 37% of glucose, instead of the recommended level of 7%.

The solution was then rushed to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where the baby was being cared for in a neo-natal unit. The trust had produced a similarly flawed prescription three years ago but spotted its mistake before it could be administered.

Judge Loraine-Smith referred to this case when passing sentence. The trust said it had "fully cooperated with investigations carried out by regulators".

A complete review of its pharmacy procedures had now been conducted and there were additional checks to the way such prescriptions were prepared, its statement added.