Hospital says sorry after mistakes that "nearly killed" newborn baby
EXCLUSIVE
By Cherry Wilson
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LABOUR PAIN: Saqib Thandi and Saima Fiaz with sons Zidane and Nauman
A MOTHER and her baby nearly died during labour after being left alone with a student midwife – who was only on her second day in the job.
Saima Fiaz and her son Nauman Saqib, from Upper Norwood, were left fighting for their lives following mistakes made at St George's Hospital.
When Mrs Fiaz, of Spa Hill, started experiencing severe pain, the trainee called in another midwife who told her it was probably because the baby was coming.
An examination was not carried out, and further help was only sought when a monitor started flashing showing the baby's heart rate was going down.
An emergency operation was then carried out, but Nauman was left starved of oxygen for at least ten minutes.
As 29-year-old Mrs Fiaz had a caesarean for the birth of her eldest son, Zidane, 3, she was considered a "high risk" patient, but she was still left with only the student midwife as she was in the early stages of giving birth.
This week the hospital in Tooting apologised and admitted it did not adequately inform Mrs Fiaz of the risks of having a normal birth after a caesarean.
The pain she was experiencing was from the scar from her first labour ripping open as she started to give birth to Nauman, and this led to her unborn son being left without oxygen.
Mrs Fiaz and her husband, Saqib Thandi, have now been told they cannot have any more children.
Bus driver Mr Thandi said: "My wife and son could have died because of their negligence.
"We'll never be able to get over this. How can we forgive them for this tragic incident?
"We were going to have another baby. These people have destroyed my whole family life."
The parents now face an agonising wait to find out if Nauman has suffered any disabilities as a result of being without oxygen for so long. He will have to undergo regular check-ups for the next five years.
Mrs Fiaz said: "I can never forgive them. We could have died. I'm angry and upset for my baby."
An investigation was launched into the care Mrs Fiaz received following the birth of her son on February 19.
This week the hospital admitted it had been at fault and that Mrs Fiaz should not have been left alone with a student midwife.
A spokesman for St George's Healthcare NHS Trust said: "The trust accepts the communication with the parents about what was a high risk birth should have been better. We have carried out a full investigation and have taken measures to ensure new guidelines for discussing risks with parents are put in place."
14 Comments
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by Concerned, South London
Friday, August 20 2010, 8:16PM
“''I can never forgive them'' ....how now to forward for anyone ?”
by Jo, Croydon
Thursday, August 19 2010, 4:09PM
“One less immirgrant to be born in this country!!”
by Mike, Ex Croydon
Wednesday, August 18 2010, 3:39PM
“Testman
What I was trying to say is that we need to plan for the changes in the way numbers in births are affected by the changed make up of our nation sorry if I was clumsey in the way I did this.”
by midwife, Croydon
Wednesday, August 18 2010, 3:00PM
“it sounds as the student midwife here was the most 'clever person' as he/she called for help, whether the appropriate help was not given we can't say, a newspaper article does not give enough insight, but I am sure the formal investigation will have looked at these things.
What the article does not say is that we are extremely understaffed and under-resourced in the NHS (I work in it and have done for over 10 years, mainly on labour wards) and that midwives are supposed to give 'high quality- one to one care' in labour but often are MADE to look after 2 or 3 women with not enough or not the right equipment, in those circumstances things get overlooked and mistakes happen, not because the midwife is not 'capable' but because it's just impossible to be in 3 rooms at the same time!
yes we tell the managers and the person in charge of the shift, after 10 years of doing that it's still NOT changing, what else can we do? if we refuse to look after the women it will be even worse? maybe not, maybe we need to go on strike for these appalling work conditions to END? midwives women children and their families are suffering!”
by Test Man, London
Monday, August 16 2010, 1:44PM
“Mike, I'm amazed that you somehow managed to work "immigration" into this story. Some of your comments I like but come on, lets not clutch at straws here.”