Third blood infection-related baby death at Glasgow maternity hospital

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde has confirmed a third baby has died at Glasgow’s Princes Royal Maternity Hospital after contracting a rare blood infection.

In a statement, the board said the child had been born “extremely poorly” and the infection was one of “a number of contributing causes” in the death.

It did not confirm when the death occurred.

The Staphylococcus aureus blood stream infection was also a factor in the death of two premature babies in January at the hospital.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the health board said: "As previously reported, we have been rigorously managing a number of cases of a rare Staphylococcus aureus blood stream infection in extremely premature babies in the neonatal unit of the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital.

"Three babies, who were extremely poorly due to their very early birth, sadly died and infection was one of a number of contributing causes in their deaths.”

The source of infection may never be known, the board admitted.