Four Years After the Tragic Loss of Their Newborn, the Simpsons Still Seek Answers
Our newborn baby died four years – Four years after the heartbreaking death of their four-day-old son, Jacob, Kianty and Conor Simpson from Lincolnshire remain without closure. Their son’s passing, which occurred at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen in June 2022, was attributed to a critical lack of oxygen to his brain during birth. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Jacob’s life support machine was turned off days later, leaving the family without a death certificate or an inquest to formally explain the circumstances of his death. The coroner for Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire has expressed regret over the delay in the case, stating it is now a “priority” for investigation.
A Birth Marked by Uncertainty
The couple’s journey began in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, where Kianty became pregnant while Conor was stationed in west Wales with the Army. To prepare for the arrival of their child, Kianty set up a hidden camera during a dinner gathering, handing Conor a box labeled as an early birthday gift. Inside, a heartfelt note declared his potential as a “great father,” accompanied by baby clothes and her positive pregnancy tests. The gesture was meant to offer comfort, but it also foreshadowed the trauma that followed.
“I’d had a really bad day at work… and all of a sudden, all those worries just vanished. The only thing I was focused on was just being a dad,” said Conor.
On 15 June 2022, Kianty was admitted to Glangwili Hospital for an induction, but her labour began unexpectedly. Initially, the birth process went smoothly, but by the next afternoon, it had slowed significantly. For a first-time mother, Kianty described feeling unprepared for the duration and intensity of the procedure. “For a first-time mum, I had no idea what it was meant to feel like and how long it was meant to take,” she recalled.
When Jacob was finally born, Conor immediately noticed something was wrong. His son appeared pale and bluish, sparking an instant sense of panic. “I just had an overwhelming sense of just panic because he looked dead and that was difficult,” he said. The moment that should have been a joy turned into a harrowing 22-minute resuscitation effort, which the couple described as “awful.” They were told Jacob was gravely ill and that his condition might lead to severe disability or even death, though he had been revived temporarily.
Enduring Emotional and Physical Struggles
Despite the medical team’s efforts, Jacob was transferred to Singleton Hospital in Swansea for cooling treatment to reduce brain swelling. Four days later, his condition worsened, and he passed away. “The staff were incredible,” Kianty shared. “They helped us make some little foot mouldings and we had the opportunity to hold him at the end.”
Conor has faced lasting emotional effects from the event. “Kianty is such a lovely person,” he reflected. “I’m just thinking why does it have to happen to her?” The most difficult moment for him was stepping outside the hospital to inform family of Jacob’s death—a call he described as the hardest of his life. “No-one can explain what the feeling is like of having to take a baby seat out of your car or to take the ‘baby on board’ sign off the back before driving home,” Conor added, capturing the bittersweet reality of their situation.
The Investigation Stalled
Four years after the incident, the family continues to grapple with the aftermath. After hiring solicitors to assist their case, Hywel Dda University Health Board suspended its internal investigation under the NHS Putting Things Right process in June 2024. The probe had previously identified several issues during Kianty’s labour, including poor communication, failure to alert the Simpsons to concerns, inadequate fetal monitoring, and a lack of escalation in care. However, the family felt the inquiry missed critical evidence, such as input from independent neonatology experts, which could have clarified the exact cause of Jacob’s death.
The health board’s decision to halt the investigation left the family in limbo. “We were told to await the inquest,” they said, highlighting their frustration. Sharon Daniel, executive director of nursing, quality, and patient experience, extended her “deepest sympathies” to the family, acknowledging the robust internal processes in place for reviewing serious incidents. “In the event of a serious incident, we have robust processes in place for reviewing the incident internally, identifying any issues, and, where appropriate, preparing an improvement plan to prevent such an occurrence in the future,” she stated. “We regret any such incidents and always seek to learn from them.”
A Compromise That Didn’t Satisfy
By January 2026, the health board admitted negligence, recognizing Jacob’s death was avoidable. This admission came after a period of uncertainty, during which the family’s request for answers had been delayed. In February 2026, they received a compensation offer with a 21-day deadline to accept. However, the Simpsons declined the proposal, feeling it did not fully address their emotional and psychological losses.
Despite the health board’s acknowledgment of fault, the family says they are still struggling to move forward. “We wanted to know why Jacob’s life was cut short, and what steps could be taken to prevent it from happening to another family,” Kianty expressed. The couple continues to advocate for transparency, emphasizing the need for a thorough inquest to provide closure. Their story underscores the lingering impact of medical errors and the importance of accountability in healthcare settings.
As the Simpson family reflects on their journey, they remain determined to uncover the full truth behind Jacob’s death. Their experience has not only shaped their personal grief but also highlighted systemic challenges within the NHS. While the health board has taken steps to address past mistakes, the family believes more needs to be done to ensure such tragedies are fully understood and prevented in the future.
