Danielle Brown, a 31-year-old from North Tyneside, experienced a harrowing medical ordeal after being sent home from a hospital while still carrying her unborn child, who had already died. The incident occurred after Brown, who was suffering from pre-eclampsia, was initially discharged despite the life-threatening condition and returned to the facility because she remained unwell.
Upon insisting on being seen by the maternity unit, doctors discovered that her baby, whom the couple had named Maisie, had passed away. Despite this confirmation, Brown was not immediately delivered but was instead given a phone number and instructed to call on Friday morning to book a slot for the birth. Her partner, Anthony Miller, described the experience of lying in bed at home holding her belly while knowing their daughter was no longer alive as horrible.
The couple had been delighted to learn they were expecting a girl in February 2023. However, seven months into the pregnancy, Brown woke with swelling in her face, hands, and feet, prompting a visit to the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington. Medics there detected issues with Maisie's heart rate and arranged an emergency transfer to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle for a caesarean section.
Upon arrival in Newcastle, Brown was placed on a ward rather than undergoing immediate surgery. Although a consultant initially stated she would remain until delivery, another doctor reviewed her case the following day and sent her home. Within 24 hours, feeling unwell again, Brown contacted the maternity unit but was told she likely had a stomach bug before finally receiving a scan that confirmed the baby's death.
Two days after being sent home, Brown went into labor for ten hours before giving birth to Maisie. She described the moment as bittersweet and devastating, noting that her first experience of holding a baby was holding her stillborn daughter. The couple expressed distress over leaving the hospital with only a memory box while walking past other parents carrying their living infants.
Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust has fully accepted that aspects of the care provided fell short of expected standards. Ian Joy, the trust's executive director of nursing and midwifery, offered a heartfelt apology and noted that following a detailed review in 2023, urgent assessment procedures and escalation protocols for unexpected symptoms have been improved.
Legal executive Faisal Ali from Irwin Mitchell stated that pre-eclampsia can be life-threatening without appropriate care. He highlighted that the trust admitted Brown should not have been discharged on February 14 or 15, 2023, suggesting that had she remained in the hospital, monitoring would have indicated the need for faster delivery, potentially resulting in Maisie being born alive.
An NHS England spokesperson condemned the failings as unacceptable and expressed deep sympathy for the family. The spokesperson emphasized that anyone experiencing the loss of a baby should be fully supported by a specialist maternity team to make informed choices about their care.
Sources: BBC News UK.