A COUPLE have spoken of their more than 50-year battle for answers over their baby’s death shortly after birth at a Bradford hospital.

Keith and Shirley Hudson’s baby son Raymond Reginald was born at St Luke’s Hospital, Little Horton Lane, on December 14, 1962, with physical deformities which they claim was caused by the morning sickness drug Thalidomide and he only lived for 12 hours at the hospital.

Mr Hudson, now 78, originally from Clayton who moved to Bridlington, East Yorkshire, 25 years ago, claims no autopsy was carried out following his son’s death and the couple did not receive a death or birth certificate for him.

They were also asked to sign forms for a post mortem and hospital staff said they would take care of the burial.

Mr Hudson added that his wife, now 75, was prescribed with Thalidomide and her medical records between 1960 and 1963 remain missing.

But they have since discovered the last known resting place of their baby son was a mass unmarked pauper’s grave at West Bowling Cemetery.

The couple went on to have three other children and now also have seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Mr Hudson, who worked as licensees at a number of pubs and clubs in Bradford, said of his first son's death: “It is a mystery what happened to him.

“We were very naive at the time. He was our first child.

“The hospital left my wife sedated for those 12 hours and I could not see my child.

“We want to make sure this cannot happen again in the future.

“Every time December comes around, it affects us.

“We both don’t have long to live, but we want to find out what happened before we go to give us peace of mind.

“We want to appeal to anyone who was connected to St Luke’s Hospital, in the early 1960s, as a midwife, nurse, sister, porter or office staff, or anyone connected to the maternity side of the hospital at this time.”

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that all of its medical records from that time were destroyed and it has helped Mr and Mrs Hudson find the final resting place of their son in Bradford.

A Trust spokesman said: “This is a tragic and sad case and our hearts go out to Mr and Mrs Hudson on their on-going grief.

“We can confirm that all maternity records are destroyed under confidential conditions 25 years after the birth of the last child, in line with Department of Health rules and the Data Protection Act.

“We acknowledge that back in the 1960s attitudes and practices within the NHS were very different, and the way we care for bereaved parents has changed profoundly over the last 53 years.

“We ensure that parents are now given clear, sensitive and honest information about their baby’s passing so that they can remain in control and are supported in their own decisions about what happens to them and their baby.

“We take comfort that we have been able to help reunite Mr and Mrs Hudson with their son’s final resting place and we mourn with them today on their sad loss all those years ago.”

A police investigation is also ongoing into Raymond’s death.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “We have spoken to a former employee of the hospital in the course of our investigation and are continuing to make further inquiries with partner agencies.”

Anyone who could help trace St Luke’s Hospital employees from the early 1960s can call Mr and Mrs Hudson on 01262 673911.