Inquest fails to determine cause of baby's death

An inquest has been unable to determine what caused the death of a 10-week-old baby in Stoke-on-Trent.

Phoebe-Rose Douglas died at Royal Stoke University Hospital on 29 October 2019 after she suffered a brain injury when she stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest.

An inquest held at Swann House in Stoke-on-Trent this week previously heard she had levels of cocaine, heroin and cannabis in her system at the time of her death.

Recording an open conclusion, Emma Serrano, area coroner for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, said there was not enough evidence for her to say what exactly caused the hypoxic brain injury.

She told Thursday's hearing there was evidence she was "exposed to drugs in the womb and out of the womb" but could not conclude it caused her death.

It could not be said the drugs were put there deliberately, she added, as it could have been the result of an "unintentional transfer" through the air, a bottle or touch.

"What I can tell you is she was born a healthy baby," Serrano told the inquest. "During her life she had been exposed to drugs.

"There had been referrals to social services due to her parents using drugs and due to the condition of the property.

"There was no evidence of injuries but the condition she came into hospital would not be expected of a child that was being properly cared for."

Phoebe-Rose was taken to hospital on 25 October 2019 after her mother found she was not breathing and paramedics discovered she was in cardiac arrest.

She was resuscitated and admitted to the paediatric intensive unit, but she died four days later after the lack of oxygen damaged her brain.

The inquest previously heard from consultant paediatrician Dr Deborah Stalker, who said Phoebe-Rose was "unkempt" and "unclean".

She also she was "smelly" and had dirt under her fingernails, feet and in the creases of her arms and neck.

In a written statement, Phoebe-Rose's grandmother said: "When Phoebe-Rose passed away, my life and the life of my family changed forever.

"It will be forever my deepest regret we were not able to make it back in time to say goodbye and tell her I loved her."

Phoebe-Rose's parents, Rachel Bourne and John Douglas, admitted child cruelty and were sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in 2024.

Bourne, who was 34 at the time, was jailed for 31 months, while Douglas, then 39, received a 10-month sentence, suspended for two years.

The court was told the couple had used illegal drugs while Phoebe-Rose was in the house but there was no suggestion they had given drugs to her.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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