THE death of a young mother in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary on Monday night after apparently getting lost and collapsing in a stairwell was raised at First Ministers Questions yesterday.
Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale MSP Christine Grahame spoke about the tragic case of Peebles woman Amanda Cox, 34, asking the First Minister to seek assurances that any review will be conducted sensitively and thoroughly.
Grahame raised concerns that Cox’s husband, Michael, had been asked to attend a meeting with the hospital administration to discuss a “review of processes” less than three days after his wife’s death.
Murray Cox was born two months prematurely at Borders General Hospital on December 6, weighing just 3lbs 7oz.
He and his mother were both transferred to Edinburgh for specialist care but on Monday evening Amanda Cox was reported missing from her ward having not returned from a trip to see her son in the nearby neonatal ward.
She was found after a five hour search seriously ill in a nearby but disused area of the hospital. It has been reported that she had taken a wrong turn when returning to her ward before collapsing with a haemorrhage from which she was declared dead at 11pm.
MSP Grahame, pictured above, said after FMQs: “Firstly, my thoughts are with all those who knew and loved Mrs Cox, particularly her husband and infant son who remains in hospital. It is a dreadful tragedy for the family, and a small child has been left without a mother.
“I also recognise how distressing this must be for the staff on the wards who were caring for Mrs Cox. It must be properly investigated so answers can be given to the family and assurances made that it will never happen again.
“I understand an internal inquiry is under way and the procurator fiscal has issued a report. However, I have heard from Amanda Cox’s husband, Michael, that the hospital administration has requested a meeting with him this week to discuss a ‘review of processes’.
“The man is grieving and traumatised. Proposing holding such a meeting less than three days after Mrs Cox’s death is highly inappropriate and frankly looks like face saving on the part of bosses.
“I have asked that the First Minister ensures that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport keeps a very close watching brief on the matter to ensure any inquiry is thorough and carried out in a manner sensitive to the family.
“I await more facts, information and understanding of what happened to come to light and will continue to offer any support I can to Mrs Cox’s family at this unimaginably difficult time.”
Replying to Grahame, Nicola Sturgeon expressed her sympathies to Cox’s family at “this extremely sad time”, before adding: “NHS Lothian are assisting the police with their investigation into the circumstances of this tragic case. In addition to the police investigation, though, the board does want to urgently review the care that Amanda received to ensure that all appropriate lessons are learned. I know they are in close contact with Amanda’s family to ensure that they are kept informed while the review is carried out.”
Meanwhile, friends of Michael Cox have surpassed their £6000 target on a fundraising page to support him.
John Clarkson wrote on gofundme.com: “On Monday the December 10, 2018 a good friend of mine Michael Cox lost his wife Amanda four days after she gave birth to their first child Murray two months premature.
“I have arranged this with the permission of one of Michael’s brothers to try and help Michael out anyway we can be it for funeral costs for Amanda or help with fuel costs travelling the 25 miles to the hospital daily for the next two months or with day-to-day costs for helping to raise Murray on his own.”
The fund stood at £7700 within 24 hours of being launched.
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