I'm back at Manchester Crown Court this week for the murder trial of nurse Lucy Letby. This morning we're expecting to hear evidence from former colleagues in regards to the death of Child D in June 2015.
Dr Andrew Brunton, who is now a consultant neonatologist but was a trainee doctor in 2015, is in the witness box. He is running the jury through is notes from June 20. He notes at the start of his shift that Child D was in 'respiratory distress'
His notes from around 21:45 that evening state: 'Explained (to father) that safest option at present would be to intubate and ventilate her now with the hope of weaning her off the ventilator quickly'
Child D was deemed 'clinically stable' at around 23:15 after being placed on a ventilator. At that time, parents were told 'if prolonged ventilation is required or a deterioration, we may have to think of transferring to Arrowe Park Hospital or Liverpool Women's Hospital'
Another note from 01:50 on 21 June, 2015 shows an improvement in Child D's condition. Dr Brunton took the decision around this time to wean her off the ventilator.
Later that day, Child D was taken off a ventilator and placed back on a less invasive form of respiratory support (continuous positive airway pressure or CPAP therapy). Dr Brunton's notes from that night state that she was 'clinically improving' and 'well enough' to take milk
Four hours later at around 01:40 on June 22, Dr Brunton was called 'urgently' to attend to Child D. His note from that morning states:'Called urgently to review baby. Nurses noted that became extremely mottled also noted to have tracking lesions dark brown/black across trunk'
After treatment, an hour later notes show Child D's condition had 'improved' and areas of discolouration had 'completely disappeared'
Dr Brunton was 'urgently' called back to attend Child D again at 03:15. His notes from that morning show that the rash had reappeared. It is the Crown's case that the rash was a result of Ms Letby injecting air into the bloodstream
At around 03:55, emergency treatment commenced. Dr Brunton recalls running from another area of the hospital after receiving a crash call. He along with other medics began chest compressions after Child D stopped breathing. Adrenaline was administered shortly after 04:00
Dr Brunton's notes show that five adrenaline doses were administered over the next 10minutes. 'This was necessary because (Child D) was in effect dying in front of us', he told the court.
After a conversation with Child D's parents, CPR was stopped after 28 minutes. Asked to summarise the events of that evening, he said: 'From when I came in on my night shift there weren't any particular worries or concerns regarding (Child D).
He added: 'By 01:40 to her death (Child D) had dramatic deteriorations at different points. It was completely unclear to me why that was occurring 'I've never seen a baby behave in that matter prior to this or after this'
Ben Myers KC, defending Ms Letby, is now taking jurors back through Dr Brunton's notes. Mr Myers has said it is important to look at the 'whole clinical picture' when assessing Child D's health
He has previously told the jury there was more evidence that infection played a part in Child D's death and the hospital failed to provide adequate care
Mr Myers is putting it to Dr Brunton that there was nothing to support (in terms of Child D's condition) his decision to move her off CPAP. Dr Brunton rejects this, he says her clinical readings were moving in the right direction
He added that is was a 'natural process' on a neonatal unit to try and move a baby off CPAP. Court has now adjourned, back in an hour.
We're back. Dr Joanne Davies, who is a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Countess of Chester, is now giving evidence. She's discussing the health of Child D's mother. She says that it was a 'low risk' pregnancy.
The court previously heard that Child D's mother was left waiting more than 50 hours for treatment after her waters broke early. Last week the mother told the court: 'I felt very worried and scared, I felt unwell and not in control. I felt I was being forgotten by the staff'
Dr Davies tells the court that the mother's 'care followed the guidelines'. She said the guidance is to 'leave someone for 24 hours to see if they labour by themselves', they are then offered inducement - but it is 'not unusual' for this to take another 24 hours hours
When pressed by Ms Letby's defence barrister, Dr Davies does however acknowledge that there was a shortfall in the care of Child D's mother as an oral antibiotic was not initially provided after her waters broke
Dr Davies says she doubts whether the antibiotic 'would have had any effect in this case'. Mr Myers responds saying, 'you may doubt, but you don't know do you?' 'I don’t know', Dr Davies says
Dr Davies told the court that the mother did not present with any signs of infection prior to the birth, but accepted the findings of a pathologist's report into the death of Child D which deemed the cause of death was pneumonia. Mr Myers described this as a 'conundrum'
Junior nurse Lisa Walker is now in the witness box. She is describing seeing Child D in the moments after her birth. 'She looked very blue in colour. I immediately shouted for help', she said
She said a doctor that was present 'looked shocked I shouted for help'. She said he 'wondered why I shouted for help...he didn’t know what was going on' Ms Walker said following the incident she filled out an internal form to express concern over his (lack of) action
Court has now adjourned for today, back tomorrow.

