Premature baby died after doctor walked off under-staffed labour ward in a row over PAY, investigation reveals
Staff at the hospital initially failed to notice she had gone into labour at 27 weeks and their failure to act on the baby's weakening heartbeat was the “root cause” of his death
A PREMATURE baby died after a doctor walked off an under-staffed labour ward in a row over pay.
It left a junior midwife in the “untenable situation” of caring for four women giving birth.
Staff shortages at one of the country’s biggest hospitals resulted in five hours of missed opportunities to save Huw Stewart’s life.
The tiny tot was delivered stillborn at St George’s hospital in London in February last year.
Staff initially failed to realise mum Philippa Stewart had gone into labour at 27 weeks.
A damning internal investigation found delays and a failure to act on his weakening heartbeat were the “root cause” of his death.
It said the safety of patients and their babies was “compromised” due to understaffing.
The report reveals a locum doctor had walked out at the start of his shift in a dispute over his pay.
And the junior midwife left in charge of Mrs Stewart was forced to interrupt an operation to get help after the baby’s heartbeat could not be detected.
The investigation found the tot should have been delivered when problems were first spotted at 9.15am. But was born five hours later.
It took the hospital almost a year to apologise to the couple.
Mrs Stewart, 34, told the : “I’m forever changed by what has happened.
“I needed someone to say sorry, that we did this terrible thing.
“We can’t focus on moving on. I can’t even think about having another baby.”
The occupational therapist said at one point her husband Jonty was forced to “stand in the corridor and shout to get help.”
The couple have now moved to Melbourne for a fresh start.
Their lawyer Mark Bowman, of Fieldfisher, said: “No one should have to wait so long for answers, particularly in such a clear-cut case.
“When a baby dies, parents feel enormous guilt and a hospital should do everything it can to ease that pain.”
The case is now being handled by the NHS Litigation Authority.
Professor Andrew Rhodes, Medical Director at St George’s, said: “We would like to express our deepest sympathies once again to Ms Stewart for her loss.
“The standard of care she received at St George’s fell far below the high standards we expect of our obstetric and midwifery staff – and, in meetings with Ms Stewart since then, we have apologised for the care she received.”
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Last year, The Sun revealed St George’s had been targeted by hundreds of pregnant health tourists.
Bosses are now planning to ask all maternity patients to show their passport before being treated.
Earlier this week, experts warned maternity services are reaching “crisis point” as swathes of staff retire and more women become obese.
A report from the Royal College of Midwives shows more than a third of British midwives are nearing pension age.
One in five mums-to-be is significantly overweight and many women are now waiting until they are older before giving birth.
Both increase the risk of complications and require additional attention.