Maisie's parents disgusted by delay (From Leigh Journal)

Maisie's parents disgusted by delay

10:51am Wednesday 25th November 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share

THE parents of a baby who died the day after her birth have been awarded thousands of pounds in damages and received an apology after a lengthy battle involving Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Foundation NHS Trust.

Maisie Cockle was delivered in October 2005 at the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan by emergency Caesarean section following failed attempts at instrumental delivery. She required resuscitation but tragically, she died the following day. After a lengthy legal battle, her parents have secured an admission of liability and an apology from the Trust, together with damages.

Cara Robinson, Maisie’s mother, who lives in Hindley Green was under the care of the specialist registrar in obstetrics when she was admitted for induction of labour on October 12, 2005.

A CTG trace of the baby’s heart showed that there were decelerations. The Registrar decided to increase the dose of syntocinon, a drug which stimulates the contractions of the uterus, and made two attempts at Ventouse delivery, both of which failed. Cara was then rushed to theatre for an emergency caesarean section and her baby, Maisie Cockle, was born at 06:38 on October 15.

Maisie was in a poor condition at birth. The cord was around her neck and she had bruising to her face and scalp. She was resuscitated and transferred to the Special Care Baby Unit.

Maisie died the following day. A subsequent post-mortem identified the causes of death as hypoxic ischaemic encephalopaphy due to perinatal asphyxia, i.e. a severe lack of oxygen during labour and birth.

Cara and her family wanted answers. How and why had this happened and why weren’t the hospital offering answers that could explain why Maisie had died? The family had no alternative but to seek legal help to get answers about what had happened.

A two-day Inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court in May 2007 considered the circumstances surrounding the birth and death of Maisie Cockle.

The Coroner heard evidence from Maisie’s parents and from doctors and midwives who were involved in Maisie’s care, as well as from independent medical practitioners. In response to questions which were put to The Registrar by Maisie’s parents’ legal team during the Inquest, she admitted that she was not aware of and had not followed the hospital protocol for administration of syntocinon when she decided to increase the level of this drug and that, in hindsight, she should have reduced it.

The Coroner gave a narrative verdict which was critical of the way in which labour and delivery had been managed.

She stated: “Maisie Cockle died as a consequence of hypoxia which accumulated during her mother’s labour and thus in the course of Maisie Cockle’s birth.

"This was the result of multi factors being the frequency of her mother’s contractions, stimulated by use of Syntocinon, and the entanglement of the umbilical cord, the effects of which were compounded by the length of her mother’s second stage of labour and by expedited delivery not taking place”.

A Trust spokesman said: "Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust is pleased that a settlement has been agreed between the parties involved. Chief Executive, Andrew Foster, has written a letter of apology that has been sent to the family. The Trust would like to express its condolences to Cara Robinson and her family."

Cara, who lived in Leigh at the time, said: "It is absolutely disgusting that it has taken them four years to apologise.

"To be perfectly honest the apology means nothing. An apology from the doctor would have meant more but she hasn't ever offered one.

"The whole way in which the Trust and its various staff have dealt with this has been appalling.

"The GMC decided that it was not a matter of public interest to investigate this doctor but as we have now proven negligence I have written to them again in the hope that they re-consider.

"I believe in matters like this action needs to be taken against the individual."

• Print
• Email
• Share