A baby was stillborn after hospital staff missed three chances to save his life, a report has found.
Little Freddie Webster could have survived if concerns over his health had been taken more seriously by medics at King’s Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts.
But nurses failed to inform a consultant there were difficulties in mum Kayleigh Turton’s labour – because they were swapping shifts at the time.
An investigation also found the mum-to-be was sent home after her waters had broken and not told she had contracted sepsis, which put both her and her baby at risk.
Kayleigh, 26. said: “As an expectant mother you have faith in those treating you – they are the professionals – but I was scared and did not feel my concerns were listened to.
“The pain of losing Freddie is indescribable and I’m not sure we’ll ever really come to terms with it.
“Nothing could bring Freddie back or begin to make up for what happened but the hospital trust now needs to make sure it enforces the recommendations highlighted in the report to ensure nobody else has to suffer the feelings of anger, pain and loss we have.”
Kayleigh, of Sutton-in-Ashfield, Mansfield, Notts., was full term when she was due to be induced at 2pm on June 10, 2017.
She had not had an easy pregnancy and had already been admitted twice to hospital with hyperemesis gravidarum – a very severe form of morning sickness.
On the day that Kayleigh was due to be induced she attended King’s Mill Hospital after her waters broke naturally.
She was sent home after routine tests were undertaken however, she was later admitted back to hospital at 6.05pm showing signs of sepsis.
She was examined by a registrar and a plan for her labour initiated with regular observations carried out.
At 2am the next day tests showed baby Freddie’s heart rate was slowing down and not normal.
The CTG monitoring remained suspicious thereafter and it’s understood that at 3.36am monitoring of Freddie’s heart was difficult to interpret.
At 5.45am tests highlighted further serious concerns about his heart rate and the fact that it was very slow.
An emergency caesarean was ultimately performed but Freddie was born showing no signs of life and could not be resuscitated.
An investigation by Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust identified a number of “care and delivery problems” and identified there were opportunities to deliver Freddie earlier.
Concerns were also aised that some of the phone calls which Kayleigh and Scott made to the hospital on June 10 with fears for her condition were not logged.
The serious incident investigation has made 12 recommendations including training staff on managing labour where a mum has suspected sepsis, escalating concerns about a baby’s condition is now essential, consultants to be fully informed of obstetric cases and consultants should personally inform switchboard operators about rota changes.
NHS bosses have drawn up an action plan drawn in a bid to stop further incidents.
Laura Hopkinson, expert medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, who are representing Kayleigh and her partner Scott Webster, 29, said: “The serious incident investigation report highlights a number of criticisms in the care Kayleigh received, in particularly that her and her baby’s condition should have been escalated to a consultant on a number of occasions throughout her labour.
“However, no attempts were ever made to contact such a consultant.
“Kayleigh and Scott have understandably been left devastated by the loss of baby Freddie.
“While nothing can ever make up for their loss, the couple hope that by admitting its mistakes, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust will learn from this tragic case so no parents have to experience the suffering they have had to go through.
“It is very important for Kayleigh and Scott that they are able to raise awareness of their tragic loss so serious lessons can be learnt.”
Andy Haynes, Medical Director said: “Sherwood Forest Hospitals would like to sincerely apologise to Ms Turton once again.
“We met with Ms Turton and her family after the investigation to apologise face-to-face, offer our sincere condolences and support for the loss of her son Freddie.
“A full investigation has taken place and since this happened we have made a number of changes within our maternity services. For example we have reviewed practises around the monitoring of babies’ heartrates and clarified the process about how and when to escalate issues to senior colleagues.
“The Trust will continue to assist fully in any ongoing legal proceedings in relation to this tragic incident.”
