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'I was blamed for my baby's death, now NHS needs to change'

When Poppy Russell died shortly after birth, her parents were left bereft. What followed made matters harder to bear - her mother was blamed for the death. An inquest would later conclude that Poppโ€ฆ

'I was blamed for my baby's death, now NHS needs to change'
BBC Health โ€” 7 October 2026
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When Poppy Russell died shortly after birth, her parents were left bereft.

What followed made matters harder to bear - her mother was blamed for the death.

An inquest would later conclude that Poppy's death was preventable.

But instead of walking away from the trust that had failed them, Neil and Katie Russell are now working with it to bring compassionate care back into the NHS.

"We could have very easily been consumed by hate and anger and rage at what happened รขย€ย“ and those feelings are still there," said Katie.

"But if no change comes from what happened to Poppy, then what's the point?"

Poppy Russell died in April 2021 at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.

During her pregnancy her mother told midwives that she had tokophobia, a fear of natural birth and wanted a caesarean section.

Read Full Story at BBC Health โ†’
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"We could have very easily been consumed by hate and anger and rage at what happened รขย€ย“ and those feelings are still there,"
โ€” BBC Health
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