Baby died in Scarborough ‘after midwives dismissed concerns’

Midwives “dismissed” the concerns of a mother whose baby died shortly after being born, her lawyers have said.

Leah Parker, 27, told staff at Scarborough General Hospital about her son Sonny’s heart rate slowing during labour in November 2022, but said she was “ignored”.

She said: “I went into hospital with a perfectly healthy baby after a great pregnancy with no issues or concerns, but left without a baby to take home and raise.”

The York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust apologised to Sonny’s family and said it had implemented changes.

Medical negligence specialists Hudgell Solicitors said that soon after arriving at hospital, Ms Parker was told that her baby would need to be induced because he was “on the larger side”.

It was alleged that medication used to make her womb contract should have been stopped four hours before it was.

This was potentially harmful to Sonny, the firm said, because his heart rate was slowing with every contraction.

According to the firm, the Trust admitted the allegation on 5 July and also accepted Sonny’s death may have been prevented if a decision to deliver him was made more than 90 minutes before it was.

In a statement issued by the solicitors, Ms Parker said the experience was “heartbreaking”.

“My mum was with me when I was in labour and she was looking at the heart rate monitor and calling the midwives using the call button as she could see it dropping,” she said.

“We were concerned but every time the midwives would come and say not to worry, and that they were checking it from their station, and so didn’t need calling. It made us feel like we were being a nuisance.”

She said each physical examination became more painful, and she could tell something was wrong after Sonny was delivered because a midwife had tears in her eyes.

“There was no crying at all and I could hear a lot of activity, but nobody was saying anything,” she said.

“To lose Sonny was absolutely devastating. It sounds an awful thing to say, but if I could go back, I would have taken the option to have had him delivered by Caesarean section, as I don’t feel midwives can be trusted.”

Ms Parker criticised the communication she received by NHS services following the death of her son.

“About a week after, I received a message from the doctor’s surgery congratulating me on the birth of my baby,” she said.

“I just cried when I opened it. When I went for my post-birth check-up, the doctor had no idea Sonny had died.”

Ms Parker and her partner have now had a baby girl, who was born in Hull.

She said their daughter “really got us through all the difficult days”.

Medical negligence specialist Samantha Gardner, of Hudgell Solicitors, said the case was “wholly avoidable”.

She added: “Over the years our lawyers have seen hundreds of apologies to parents who have suffered loss and injury due to maternity negligence, and presently, we’re seeing more than ever.”

In June, a national inquiry was announced into maternity failings.

Ms Gardner welcomed the investigation, adding that it “must be driven by the experiences of patients, families and staff”.

A spokesperson for the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offered “sincere condolences and apologies to Sonny’s family”.

They said they “fully acknowledge how devastating the loss of a child is”.

A statement added: “The family has since met with our obstetric and paediatric teams.

“Sonny’s case was referred to the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (HSIB), and we accepted and acted on the safety recommendations outlined in their report. We have also fully co-operated with the coroner’s inquiry.”

The inquest concluded that there was an opportunity for Sonny to have been delivered earlier, which the spokesperson said was noted by the Trust.

They said: “The coroner was satisfied and reassured that the Trust is taking appropriate steps to implement changes to clinical guidelines and deliver a range of improvements in maternity care.”