Poor care to blame for baby’s death
Posted: March 22, 2014
Posted in: Birth Injury Medical Negligence Wrongful & Accidental Death
The family of a baby who was stillborn have blamed the hospital’s poor standard of care for what happened. Deborah and Richard Horner, from North Yorkshire, were expecting their daughter Abbie to be delivered at St James’ Hospital in Leeds in 2011. Abbie, however, was still born as a result of care failings and poor communication between hospital staff. The midwife in charge of Mrs Horner’s care was suspended by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and has since retired.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust admitted to their failings, saying that the care offered to Mrs Horner “fell short of high standards”. Mrs Horner was 43 at the time of her pregnancy with Abbie, and as a result was considered “high risk”. On top of this, Mrs Horner had already suffered a miscarriage prior to her pregnancy. Abbie was delivered still born in an emergency caesarean section operation at the hospital on the 17th August 2011.
Inadequate and inaccurate record keeping
An investigation carried out by the hospital found that there had been a misinterpretation of a foetal heart trace reading and inadequate and inaccurate record keeping. Julian Hartley, the Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said that the member of staff responsible had been disciplined, and that improvements have been made since the accident. The trust formally apologised to the family for their lost baby.
If you have been affected by medical negligence, and are looking to claim compensation, please contact us.
« Surgeon responsible for fatal bug wins disclosure case
Woman hospitalised after drinking Waitrose coffee containing cleaning fluid »
