Baby son was ‘not safe’ at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, inquest hears

The mother of a baby who died from an undiagnosed heart condition said her son was “not safe” at a Kent hospital as “no-one took her concerns seriously”, an inquest heard.

Tommy Kneebone was seven months old when he died on 21 January 2023 at Tunbridge Wells Hospital in Pembury.

Kent and Medway Coroner’s Court in Maidstone heard on Monday the boy’s mother, Shanice Kneebone, had taken him to the local GP and A&E several times before his death without his underlying cardiomyopathy being identified.

The inquest heard Tommy’s parents first noticed he had a cough in October 2022.

Tommy saw a GP on 16 November and was prescribed antibiotics for a respiratory illness.

He saw the GP again on 8 December, where he was prescribed more antibiotics and an inhaler.

The court heard he was taken to A&E the previous day but was not seen due to “severe delays”.

Tommy was taken to Tunbridge Wells Hospital on 19 January and then brought back the next day as his condition worsened.

The court heard Tommy had not taken any fluids in two days by the time he was put on an IV drip.

One nurse told his parents she could not do it “due to insufficient experience” and others were unable to find a vein, the inquest heard.

Ms Kneebone told the court she was “getting angry” as they had been waiting too long.

“I did not feel Tommy was safe at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, as no-one seemed to be taking my concerns seriously,” she added.

The court heard Tommy continued to deteriorate until hospital staff started discussing moving him to London’s Evelina Children’s Hospital.

While Tommy’s family waited, thinking those preparations were being made, medical staff were performing CPR for more than an hour.

Tommy was pronounced dead after 4am on 21 January 2023.

The inquest heard doctors identifying an underlying and undiagnosed cardiomyopathy, which they said caused his death.

It also heard Tommy’s parents had since undergone tests that did not suggest they passed the condition to their son.

The inquest continues.

Additional reporting by PA.