Hospital criticised as baby's death 'completely avoidable'

An investigation into the death of a baby who was delivered stillborn at James's Hospital in Leeds found it was caused by a catalogue of errors, lawyers said. The family received an undisclosed settlement from the hospital.

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Mother of stillborn describes 'horrendous' treatment

A woman whose baby's death was "completely avoidable" has described her "horrendous" experience at St James's Hospital in Leeds.

Deborah Horner's baby Abbie was delivered stillborn in 2011, after a series of blunders by midwives and nurses resulted in her brain being starved of oxygen. Mrs Horner said her whole life has changed since the devastation of her daughter's death.

The hospital should have taken special care as Mrs Horner was over forty at the time of her pregnancy.

The midwife in charge of Mrs Horner's care was referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council and given a 12-month suspension order, lawyers said. She has now retired.

Hospital criticised for failures over baby's death

The lawyer for the parents of a baby who was stillborn at St James's Hospital in Leeds said an internal investigation into the death revealed a catalogue of failures, including:

  • The foetal heart rate (CTG) was misinterpreted
  • There was inadequate and inaccurate record keeping
  • There was a failure to keep mother and baby the focus of the care
  • And a failure to act within trust guidance

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Family 'yet to receive apology for baby's death'

The mother of Abbie Horner, who was born stillborn following a series of blunders made by nurses at St James's Hospital in Leeds, said she has still not received an apology from the hospital, despite the trust's admission.

Deborah Horner said she could not understand how badly the family have been treated, and spoke of how the hospital's actions have made her grief and shock worse.

To this day we are still shocked and appalled by what we went through and the tragic loss of our daughter Abbie. To know that our baby would have been born healthy had it not been for the failures to report her abnormal heartbeat is incredibly difficult to come to terms with.

Everyone makes mistakes but there are lives at stake and my baby deserved the best possible care but, sadly, both she and I were failed.

My family have not even received an apology despite the trust's admission. This is just shocking and has left us very angry.

Nothing will ever bring our daughter back but if they can apologise and prove that lessons have been learnt and shared across the NHS then hopefully we can start to put this horrendous ordeal behind us and try and re-build our lives.

Baby's death 'completely avoidable'

A couple whose baby was delivered still born have described their "horrendous ordeal" after a hospital admitted they were responsible for the series of blunders that led to her death.

Deborah and Richard Horner's daughter Abbie was delivered stillborn on August 17, 2011 following an emergency caesarean section.

An investigation found that her death was caused by a catalogue of errors and poor communication by midwives which led to her brain being starved of oxygen, their lawyer said.

The family received an undisclosed settlement after the NHS trust which runs St James's Hospital in Leeds.

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