WARNING DISTRESSING IMAGES: Parents' pain is 'indescribable' after loss of baby Freddie at King's Mill Hospital

Freddie Webster was stillborn at king's Mill Hospital in June last year after mum Kayleigh Turton was initially sent home, despite her waters having broken.

Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who operate the hospital, has since conducted a serious incident investigation report, which identified a number of “care and delivery problems”.

Kayleigh aged 26, from Sutton, 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, who was 41 weeks and five days pregnant, was due to be induced at 2pm on June, 10, 2017.

Kayleigh had not had an easy pregnancy and had already been admitted twice to hospital with hyperemesis gravidarum - a very severe form of morning sickness that was suffered by Kate Middleton.

On the day that Kayleigh was due to be induced, she attended King’s Mill with partner Scott Webster, aged 29, after her waters broke on the morning of June 10, but was sent home after routine tests.

However, at 6.05pm, she had to be admitted to a ward as she was 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 is understood that at 3.36am monitoring of Freddie’s heart was difficult to interpret.

And at 5.45am, tests again 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.

Laura Hopkinson, medical negligence lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing the couple, said the serious incident investigation report highlights a number of criticisms in the care Kayleigh received.

"The condition of her and her baby should have been escalated to a consultant on a number of occasions throughout her labour," Mrs Hopkinson said. "However, no attempts were ever made to contact such a consultant.

Kayleigh and Scott have been left devastated by the loss of baby Freddie but want the investigation to make a difference for other mums.

Mrs Hopkinson said: "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's very important for Kayleigh and Scott that they are able to raise awareness of their tragic loss so serious lessons can be learnt.”

NHS bosses have drawn up an action plan drawn in a bid to stop further incidents.

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.

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’ heart rates 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.”

The report found the following:

· The hospital failed to follow National Institute for Health Care and Excellence sepsis guidelines and advise Kayleigh how ill she was and that her baby’s life was in danger.

· Staff missed three chances to raise concerns about Freddie’s condition to a consultant who was on-call and should have been informed. These included when Kayleigh was admitted with sepsis at 6.05pm and at 2am when Freddie’s heart rate started to show signs of distress. Unfortunately, this was when the registrar was in theatre with another patient and again at 2.45am when the registrar was still in theatre.

· A busy ward impacted on the care Kayleigh received and the swift administering of antibiotics to treat her sepsis.

· Hospital staff struggled to contact a paediatrician to try and resuscitate Freddie because consultants had swapped shifts and not informed switchboard operators. When a less qualified registrar did arrive she did not feel supported by her more senior colleagues.

· The hospital has accepted that there were potential opportunities to deliver Freddie earlier.