Unregulated Maternity Services: Coroner Demands Urgent Regulation

0:00On March 23rd, a coroner is demanding urgent national regulation for the unregulated maternity services industry after the death of four-month-old. Madison Bruce Smith, grandson of former Manchester United player Steve Bruce. The baby was found unresponsive at 7am on October 18th, 2024, at his family's home in Bowden, near Manchester. His father, ex-leads United's striker Matt Smith, discovered him after the infant had been placed to sleep on his tummy overnight, against long-standing. UK guidelines that recommend back-sleeping for babies. The parents had hired Eva Clemens as a maternity nurse to help with Madison's sleep routine, believing she was qualified through a company called. Ruthie maternity services run by Ruth Asare. But Clemens had no formal medical training, just a one-day course, and the company offered no real oversight or vetting. Police investigated her for neglect, but found no criminal case, noting it wasn't illegal to tummy-sleep a baby, though it went against expert advice.

1:02Madison's parents expressed deep regret in their statements, saying they trusted Clemens completely because she was recommended and seen. They described their son as a perfect boy, and said losing him shattered their family. They never imagined she wouldn't check on him overnight, especially after she changed his routine that very first night. Experts at the inquest, including a pediatrician, criticized the lack of safe-sleeping knowledge in these services, linking tummy-sleeping to risks, like sudden infant death syndrome. The cause of death was listed as unassertained, but the corner noted the prone position was unsafe. Clemens had been active on her phone and apps that night instead of intervening. Senior corner Allison Much issued a prevention of future deaths report to the health secretary, warning that without rules, unqualified people can, mislead parents and put babies at risk. She stressed the growing demand for these services highlights the need for standards now.