Baby inquest hears training call

The chief coroner has recommended better training for medical staff

An inquest into the death of a baby at Altnagelvin Hospital has heard a call for more training for medical staff monitoring babies during labour.

The inquest was into one of four babies who died shortly after being born in the Londonderry hospital in 2006.

Chief Coroner John Leckey said a common aspect was the failure of staff to accurately read signs which would have resulted in immediate Caesareans.

Mr Lecky said he would raise the matter with the chief medical officer.

He said that the problem was not limited to Altnagelvin hospital.

He said medical and nursing staff in all hospital labour wards should constantly be trained in how to interpret the results of cardiotocograph traces, which monitor heartbeats of children in the womb.