A slightly premature baby who died while the nurse caring for him was on a break should have been checked while she was away, an investigation has found. The baby boy died at Auckland City Hospital, two days after he was born by a "semi-urgent" caesarean at 35 weeks, three days gestation. After 17 hours in the maternal complex care area, the baby was moved to a post-natal ward with his mother, rather than the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). On the night the baby boy died, the nurse caring for him went on a one-hour meal break and when she checked on him on her return, he had vomited heavily and was not breathing. An expert doctor found the baby had been cared for and monitored appropriately by medical staff.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 23, 2026 01:14 UTC