Poppy Russell died at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford at 12 hours old following complications during labor. Her mother Katie had informed midwives during pregnancy of tokophobia, a fear of natural birth, and requested a cesarean delivery. Despite these requests, Katie reported receiving inadequate care during labor, insufficient monitoring, and ultimately requiring an emergency cesarean section. An inquest concluded that Poppy’s death was preventable and would not have occurred had she been delivered approximately an hour earlier. She sustained a hypoxic brain injury during labor that proved fatal.
Following the inquest in 2023, the Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust initially blamed Katie for refusing fetal monitoring, a claim the inquest found to be untrue. The trust later acknowledged failings in the care provided and expressed remorse for the death. The broader maternity services at the trust were under review at the time of Poppy’s death, with an inquiry finding that 201 babies and nine mothers might have survived with better care.
Instead of pursuing retribution, Poppy’s parents decided to work constructively with the trust to drive improvements. In March 2024, following discussions with the trust leadership, they developed Poppy’s Promise, a care framework built on four principles: compassion, acknowledgement, respect, and empowerment. The program emphasizes treating patients as individuals while recognizing their feelings and involving them in their care decisions.
The trust is implementing Poppy’s Promise across its workforce of approximately 8,000 staff members. The organization has integrated questions about compassionate care into its recruitment processes. Staff members, including midwives and emergency medicine consultants, acknowledge that pressure from high patient volumes and clinical complexity can challenge their ability to provide compassionate care consistently. Research cited by hospital leadership indicates that compassionate treatment correlates with fewer patient complications and improved outcomes.
Poppy’s parents report that other NHS organizations and universities have expressed interest in incorporating Poppy’s Promise into their training and teaching programs, with the broader aim of embedding compassionate care practices throughout the health service.
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