Hospital writes to baby who died 20 years ago

The parents of a baby who died 20 years ago told today how a hospital questionnaire asking about her condition brought their grief flooding back.

Tracey and Alan Davey, both 46, got the letter, addressed to their first-born daughter Rebecca, last week at their home in Chelmsford. Rebecca was born at Bart's in 1989 with a hole in her abdominal wall and died in the hospital six months later.

Mrs Davey, an administrator who lives with policeman husband Alan, and daughters Nicola, 19, and Abigail, 18, said: "It read, 'Dear Sir or Madam, from our hospital record I find that you were born with an abdominal wall defect.'" It asked "how is your health this week" and "can you walk up and down stairs".

Mrs Davey said: "I was stunned, I couldn't believe it. My younger daughter sat there and cuddled me. I used to dream she wasn't really dead. I know she died but this arrives and brings that dream back."

A spokeswoman at Barts said they were "extremely sorry for the pain and distress caused", adding: "The survey should never have been sent, and we deeply regret it was. A full investigation is under way."