Family have closure after the tragic stillbirth of their baby, stillborn at Whipps Cross Hospital
At 14-weeks pregnant, K attended Whipps Cross Hospital. Her blood pressure was found to be a worrying 128/90. NICE guidelines state that, in these circumstances, K should have been referred to a high risk obstetrics clinic. No such referral was made.
K was seen regularly in the antenatal clinic throughout her pregnancy. At each appointment, her blood pressure was found to be high but no action was taken to monitor or treat the problem. In January, a scan at 28 weeks gestation showed the baby's growth had slowed. A repeat scan was ordered for two weeks later.
In February, K was seen again in the antenatal clinic at 31 weeks. No plan was discussed to address her raised blood pressure. Another scan showed further problems with the baby's growth. She was reviewed again in early March, but, despite the ultrasound findings and her high blood pressure, no action was recommended.
A week later, K went to triage at Whipps Cross Hospital complaining of reduced fetal movement and vaginal spotting. Her blood pressure was 153/103. Tragically, an ultrasound scan confirmed that her daughter had died in utero. Because of her high blood pressure, K could not have a caesarean section and had to go through an induced labour and F was delivered stillborn that evening.
K complained to the hospital about the treatment she had received. The Trust produced a report that concluded there had been a failure to monitor her blood pressure levels throughout the pregnancy and that this could have contributed to the death of her daughter.
K instructed Jonathan Zimmern in October 2015. Jonathan wrote a letter of claim to the Trust highlighting the failures in K's care as concluded in their own report. The Trust admitted liability and a settlement was agreed in March 2016, just five months after Jonathan was instructed.
On completion of the case, K said:
"Jonathan was recommended to me by a friend of mine. When I met Jonathan I was so happy I had asked him for help. From day one he has not just been professional but also a lovely person to speak to. You need someone with heart to deal with such issues, especially when you are going through such a horrific time after losing your baby, and Jonathan was very sympathetic to our situation. He was always very nice to talk to and always kept us involved with what was happening with the case. There are no words to describe how grateful my husband and I are to Jonathan for his help".
Jonathan added:
"There are few things that can be more traumatic than losing a baby and this was such a needless death. Thankfully the hospital trust acknowledged that its staff had not followed the NICE guidelines and they spared the family the upset of a prolonged legal argument. Time and time again we are forced to fight claims that should have been resolved months or even years previously and I was pleased that the Trust on this occasion acted sensibly in relation to this tragic death."
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For further information about midwifery negligence claims and obstetrics negligence claims, please call Jonathan Zimmern on 03304606779 or email jonathan.zimmern@fieldfisher.com.
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